The Enmore Sugar Factory was founded in the early 1800s and it was very common for a distillery to be attached to all factories. The famous Enmore still is very unique as it is a wooden column still, which was moved to the Diamond Distillery when Enmore closed its doors for the last time in 1993. Virtually no casks of this rum exist anymore. With tropical aging, you cannot age rum for too long in the Caribbean, certainly not for 30+ years. Therefore, these casks were moved to Liverpool in 1993 and the Guyana rum has spent the majority of its time gently maturing in the cooler climate here.Â
The Enmore still is not only the world’s last surviving wooden still but also the world’s oldest operating column still, so an incredible piece of history here. The still was built in 1880, using the original plans of the first Coffey still with, 25 copper plates in the first analyser column, and 32 copper plates in the 2nd rectifying column.Â
Regarding the Uitvlugt (pronounced eye-flot) Distillery, they also have a very similar storied history, which can trace its roots back to 1871. Attached again to a sugar factory, this distillery also had a famous wooden still, which was known as the Versailles Still. However, this is one of the oldest pot stills left in existence and is actually 250 years old! The still was originally part of the Versailles distillery, before moving to Uitvlugt and is now to be found at the Diamond Distillery. It is known for producing heavy, distinctively robust, and highly flavourful rum. Only two wooden pot stills are left and both are in Guyana. This is rum making from a long-forgotten bygone age, and there is truly nothing like it in the world.Â
Guyanese rum uses the highly sort after Demerara sugar cane. This high-quality cane has been harvested since the 16th century and the rum industry sprung to life not that much later. By the 18th century, British Guyana could actually boast 384 distilleries! The style of rum from this region is very heavy and actually quite aromatic, with so many robust flavours coming to the fore. In our experience, it ages incredibly well and expects to find lots of toasted oak richness, and rum cake, with underlying cooked pineapple notes also coming to the fore. It truly is delicious rum.Â
For private clients/independent bottlers, what to consider here is a very rare piece of rum history. Firstly, these historic distilleries were both closed way back in 1993, and this is some of the last rum made with the famous Enmore and Uitvlugt Versailles stills, in their original homes. We suggest that close attention is needed to how the rum is currently maturing. For Indy bottlers, these wonderfully-unique casks are ready for bottling now and it would certainly garner a lot of attention in the rum enthusiast world.
This would become a standout offering, in any company’s collection. Interestingly, in the last few years, there have been signs that rare rum from famous distilleries has become much more investible. Therefore, to purchase this Guyana rum cask now and to hold on to it until it reaches the milestone age of 40 years could be a very savvy move.
We currently have an old & rare 1990 Guyana (Uitvlugt) Barrel on our stock list. To find out more about Rum Casks contact The Masters today!
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