2014 El Dorado High Ester Blend PM / DHE Cask Strength Guyana Rum (750ml)

Following the series’ inaugural release in 2024 (La Bonne Intention / DHE) comes this single barrel blend of two pot still rums, PM (Port Mourant double wooden pot still ) & DHE (Diamond High Ester from a small John Dore double retort pot still), both aged for 10 years in second-fill Bourbon barrels. According to the company, their high ester rums are marked by intense fruity and floral notes, driven by the concentration of the aromatic compounds that define their signature character. The distillation process involves slow boiling and high reflux in the DHE still, which is said to help retain and extract the high concentration of ethyl acetate produced during the “funky fermentation” process. As a result, the rum achieves ester levels exceeding 1,500 grams per hectolitre.

Beyond the deep mahogany colour, the first thing you notice is the volatility of alcohol. Once the fumes recede the nose gives way to papaya, mango yogurt, ginger warmth and latent vanillas. If you like your rums intense, this comes with a potent, almost incendiary attack of succulent tropical fruits and bracing spices. As your mouth adjusts to the ABV it feels less aggressive.; flavours of ginger biscuits and dry molasses are evident, as is the Bourbon oak input, but overall it's true to the label, capturing a bittersweet fruit-bomb profile that repeatedly brings you back to those funky esters, reminiscent of banana bread and ripe papaya, especially as the finish gains definition after air contact. Not everyone can handle these very natural and exotic styles, but most would agree, they're rare to find, and deliver at least twice as much character than 99% of mainstream market rums. 51.7% Alc./Vol.

Notes from the producers... aromas of green apple, flambéed banana, and subtle notes of clove, cigar, and peat. On the palate, the fruit-forward style showcases notes of ripe tropical fruit, clove, and infused tobacco spice.