VERSAILLES VSG 2002 63% EL DORADO RARE COLLECTION

Distilled on the Wooden Single Pot Still at Diamond Distillery, Tropically aged for 12 years in former bourbon barrels and bottled in 2015, this is part of the El Dorado Rare Collection range.

The Diamond Distillery, is the last surviving rum distillery in Guyana. Located on the east bank of Demerara River at the now silent Plantation Diamond, one of the oldest sugar plantation of the country, its history dates back to 1670 when, after the introduction of the art of distilling by the British colonists, each sugar estate still had its own distillery.

The 70s saw an unexpected draw in the price of sugar and distilleries started shutting down one after the other. Shortly afterwards a process of nationalisation began and Diamond Distillery became part of the portfolio of Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL), property of the Government of Guyana.

As only distillery still operative in Guyana, is home to the ‘Heritage Stills’, transferred over the years from closing distilleries and operating among the others, the legendary four-column French Savalle still from Uitvlugt, the wooden pot still from Port Mourant and the wooden coffey still from Enmore, last and oldest of its kind in the world.

Diamond Distllery thanks to its different alembics, also blends its award-winning El Dorado and is the largest suppliers of bulk rums from the Caribbean to European and North-American brands.

THE BRAND

Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL), founded in 1770 along the Demerara River and currently owned by the Government of Guyana, is the only distillery still operating in the country, and owner of the largest stock of old rums in the world, which currently produces the El Dorado rum line and other excellent selections.

Located near the capital Georgetown, it can rely on the highest quality of molasses, thanks to a territory that represents one of the last still unspoiled paradises, almost entirely covered in virgin Amazonian forest.

Before World War II, there were still 9 distilleries active within Guyana, but after the war, 8 of them were closed by government decision. Thanks to the farsightedness of Yesu Persaud, legendary president of the DDL, their incredible historical heritage represented by centuries-old alembics, has come down to us.

All the alembics were transferred to the DDL, and to date 13 of them are still operating including 3 double columns Coffey still ‘Tricanada', 2 modern multiple columns of Indian technology, 2 savalle still, 1 wooden double pot still (Port Mourant), 1 wooden single pot (Versailles), 1 wooden Coffey column (Enmore), 1 Wedderburn style copper still, 1 traditional copper still and 1 small gin still batch.

Known today as  the “Heritage Stills”, they represent a delightful dive into the history.