El Dorado Enmore 2009

I can’t actually remember when I first picked up this bottle of El Dorado Enmore 2009 Single Still Rum, but I do remember not quite appreciating it at the time. Back then, earlier in my rum journey, my palate wasn’t as tuned in to what makes these Single Still releases so special. Coming back to it now, a few years on, it feels like I’m tasting it with fresh eyes—and that’s one of the joys of rum: bottles can grow with you as your own appreciation develops.

El Dorado is the flagship brand of Demerara Distillers Ltd. (DDL), based in Guyana. Since its launch in the early 1990s, the brand has become a standard-bearer for rums with heritage and depth of character. DDL operates the Diamond Distillery, the last remaining distillery in the country, and it houses some of the world’s most unique pieces of rum history – wooden stills that date back centuries.

The Enmore wooden column still (EHP) is one of these treasures. Originally built in the 19th century at the Enmore Estate, it’s the last wooden column still of its kind still in operation today, now preserved at Diamond. The Single Still series was created to shine a spotlight on these historic stills, letting enthusiasts experience the individual style and character that each one imparts. Alongside Enmore, the range also includes rums from other legendary stills such as Port Mourant (the last surviving double wooden pot still) and Versailles (a single wooden pot still). Each has its own distinct fingerprint, and together they tell the story of Guyana’s rum heritage in a way that few brands can match.

This does mean I’m going to have to track down a few of the others in the series so I can taste them side by side – because half the fun of rum is in those comparisons, and the Single Still collection is practically made for it.

Nose

Initially quite a nutty profile (hazelnuts perhaps) with a sour/tart fruit note sitting underneath alongside coconut husk, damp/wet wood and some raisins. On the finish this delivers dusty leather and apricots. A very complex bouquet of aromas that I could sit with for a long time.

Palate

The hazelnut remains from the nose but in a very dried form – these have been sat on the side for quite a while. Lots of cracked, old leather, woody pepper and bark.

Juicy stone fruits develops that keep this from becoming too dry or spice forward, resulting in a very balanced and somewhat chewy profile. On the finish there’s a gentle hint of smoke from charred wood chips complimented by milk chocolate and toffee apples – a very Novemberish rum.

8/10 – For how much I’m enjoying this at 40% I would be very interested to see the profile at cask strength