Rum Nation Rare Rums Versailles 16 Years Peated Cask Finish

Rum Nation Rare Rums Versailles 16 Year Old Peated Cask Finish is distilled in a traditional wooden pot still, and has then undergone a long maturation process, completed with an extra maturation in casks that previously contained peated Scotch whisky. The rum is bottled at 58.2% alcohol. As a result, this rum is extremely full-bodied and complex.

Versailles was one of Guyana's smallest distilleries, producing rum until 1975 when it was forced to close. In 1977, the Enmore distillery acquired Versailles' old wooden pot still. When Enmore closed in 1993, the still moved to Uitvlugt, and when Uitvlugt closed in 2000, the still moved to Guyana's only remaining rum distillery – Diamond Distillery. Diamond Distillery still uses Versailles' 250-year-old wooden pot still for the production of rum spirit, and often names releases after the still.

Rums produced using the Versailles still are characterized by being full-bodied and extremely aromatic, and Versailles rum is highly valued among rum enthusiasts for its extremely distinctive taste and aroma.

On the nose, one is met with agave and lightly smoky notes – like a good mezcal. Likely a result of aging in peated whisky casks. However, one can still smell that it is a rum. Overripe pineapple and papaya, sweet and with mild spice. Quite complex.
On the palate, the peat notes are distinct. Dry, with sea salt and sour candies. The characteristic oily richness of Guyanese rum is present, as is the elegance characteristic of distillates from the Versailles still.
The finish is long, with notes of eucalyptus and star anise, especially lingering along the edge of the tongue.

This small batch rum from Guyana is only produced in a limited quantity of 1136 bottles. 58.2% -70 cl.