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Introduction to Demerara Distillers Ltd
A distillery with a passion for heritage rum
Demerara Distillers Ltd is a legendary Guyanese rum producer, situated on the banks of the Demerara River in South America. This iconic distillery has become synonymous with some of the world’s most distinctive and characterful rums, preserving production methods that date back centuries.
The distillery represents the last surviving rum producer in Guyana, carrying forward a tradition that once included more than 300 distilleries during the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, it stands as a living museum of rum-making history while continuing to produce world-class spirits.
Why we have a soft spot for Demerara Distillers Ltd
At Vault of Spirits, we treasure distilleries that maintain authentic traditions while creating exceptional products. Demerara Distillers Ltd stands apart in the rum world for its preservation of historical stills that are completely unique – including the world’s only functioning wooden pot still and a rare wooden Coffey still.
Their commitment to preserving these ancient production methods, combined with their mastery of tropical aging, creates rums with unparalleled depth, character, and historical significance.
The History behind Demerara Distillers Ltd
Origins and development
Demerara Distillers Ltd traces its origins back to the 1670s when sugar plantations began operating along the Demerara River. Each plantation typically had its own rum distillery, creating a rich tapestry of rum production throughout the region.
Through consolidation over the centuries, by 1998, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) emerged as the sole remaining distillery in Guyana, having acquired the equipment, techniques, and heritage from numerous historical estates. Today’s operation at Diamond Estate near Georgetown is the inheritor of this centuries-old tradition.
The people behind the spirit
The distillery is run by a team of dedicated professionals who maintain an almost spiritual connection to Guyana’s rum-making past. Under the guidance of Master Distiller Shaun Caleb, the team combines scientific precision with traditional knowledge passed down through generations.
Their collective expertise ensures that each bottle represents not only exceptional quality but also preserves the unique techniques that might otherwise have been lost to history.
The Craft and Production
From raw materials to finished product
Production at Demerara Distillers begins with locally grown sugar cane, harvested from Guyana’s fertile coastal plain. The distillery produces its own molasses from this sugar cane, ensuring quality control from the earliest stages.
What truly sets Demerara apart is its collection of historic stills, each producing a distinctive style of rum. The wooden pot still from Port Mourant Estate (dating back to 1732), the wooden Coffey still from Enmore Estate, and the French Savalle still each contribute unique characteristics to their rums.
Maturation and aging
Aging takes place in American oak ex-bourbon barrels within Guyana’s tropical climate, where the heat and humidity accelerate maturation while creating rich, complex profiles. The “angel’s share” (evaporation) in this tropical environment can reach up to 8% per year, compared to around 2% in Scotland or Ireland.
This tropical aging creates intensely concentrated flavors with notable depth and complexity. Many of the distillery’s premium expressions are bottled as single still releases, allowing rum enthusiasts to experience the unique character of each historical production method.
Selected Products from Demerara Distillers Ltd
El Dorado 12 Year Old – An introduction to the house style
This award-winning rum serves as an excellent gateway to understanding Demerara’s distinctive profile. Notes of honey, dark chocolate, toasted oak, and tropical fruits create a balanced, complex sipping experience that has converted many whisky enthusiasts to the pleasures of premium rum.
With a velvety mouthfeel and a finish that combines warming spices with caramelized sugar, it exemplifies the rich, full-bodied character that defines Demerara rums.
El Dorado 21 Year Old – An experience for connoisseurs
A more complex expression that showcases the extraordinary depth possible with extended tropical aging. Expect a sophisticated profile featuring dried fruits, tobacco, dark honey, vanilla, and oak spices, with a remarkable viscosity that coats the palate.
This premium bottling demonstrates the heights that rum can achieve when exceptional distillation meets patient maturation in the hands of skilled craftspeople.
Visit the Distillery
Tours and tastings
Demerara Distillers Ltd offers guided tours where visitors can witness these historic stills in operation – a truly unique experience for spirits enthusiasts. The tour typically includes a comprehensive exploration of the production process, from molasses to aging warehouses.
The tasting experience usually includes samples across the El Dorado range, allowing visitors to appreciate the progression of flavors and complexity as the aging increases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Demerara Distillers Ltd?
Demerara Distillers Ltd is a rum distillery in Guyana that produces rum using historic equipment and techniques dating back to the 18th century. Their approach combines traditional methods with careful quality control to create distinctive rums that reflect the region’s rich heritage.
Where is Demerara Distillers Ltd located?
The distillery is located at Diamond Estate on the east bank of the Demerara River in Guyana, South America. The tropical climate of this location plays a significant role in the maturation process and resulting flavor profile of their rums.
What characterizes Demerara Distillers Ltd?
Demerara Distillers is especially known for their preservation of unique historical stills, including the world’s last functioning wooden pot still and a rare wooden continuous still. These different stills produce distinctly different rum styles, which are then blended or bottled as single-still expressions.
Their rums typically exhibit rich, full-bodied profiles with notes of tropical fruits, dark sugars, and spice, often with a characteristic smoky quality that distinguishes them from other Caribbean rums.
Where can I buy rum from Demerara Distillers Ltd?
You can find selected bottles from Demerara Distillers Ltd at Vault of Spirits. We carefully select the best expressions – including both their standard releases and limited editions – to provide you with access to these remarkable spirits with centuries of history behind them.