First Impressions
This El Dorado release is a marriage of two exceptional rums distilled in 2012 at the Demerara Distillers facility. The LBI — La Bonne Intention — portion was produced using a four-column French Savalle still, while the DHE component comes from the legendary double wooden pot still. The combination of these two distinctive distillation methods creates a high-ester blend of remarkable complexity, bottled at cask strength 57%.
Tasting
The nose is intense and captivating. Tropical fruit esters announce themselves forcefully — overripe banana, pineapple, and a funky hogo character that signals serious Guyanese provenance. Vanilla and aged oak add depth and maturity, tempering the ester intensity with warmth and structure.
The palate is bold and complex. High ester tropical fruit provides the core, with dark molasses adding richness and weight. Oak spice provides structure, herbal depth weaves through the mid-palate, and the texture is rich, oily, and commanding. At 57%, it carries tremendous intensity without harshness.
The finish is long with persistent esters, oak, tropical fruit, and a warming spiced close.
The Bottom Line
At £130, the El Dorado 2012 LBI-DHE is essential drinking for anyone interested in the extraordinary diversity of Guyana's still heritage. The marriage of Savalle column and wooden pot still creates a profile that exists nowhere else in rum. A high-ester masterclass.
