El Dororado
El Dorado is the flagship rum brand of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), crafted at the Diamond Distillery on the East Bank of the Demerara River in Guyana.
El Dorado is a molasses-based rum, blending spirits distilled in both modern column stills and historic wooden stills—such as Port Mourant, Versailles, and Enmore (a wooden Coffey still)—which impart a distinct, complex character.
Aging takes place in ex-bourbon oak barrels under tropical conditions, accelerating wood maturation and flavor development. Expressions range from younger blends (3, 5, or 8 years) to premium aged rums (12, 15, 21, or 25 years), along with rare limited releases from specific stills.
Tasting notes vary by expression, for example:
El Dorado 12 Year Old — Lush tropical fruit and spice on the nose, with hints of honey and dark sugar; mellow and full-bodied, featuring fruit and spice flavors with an elegant, dry finish.
El Dorado 25 Year Old — Heavy and rich, with notes of dark roasted chocolate, molasses, espresso, brown sugar, caramel, smoky tobacco, walnut, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and clove.
El Dorado Rare Collection (e.g., Enmore 1993, Port Mourant 1999, Versailles 2002) — Unique single-still rums with deep caramel, toffee, smoke, vanilla, nuts, dried fruits, spice, and long, lingering finishes.
In recent years, El Dorado has reduced the addition of sugar and caramel in some blends, allowing the distillate, wood, and still character to shine more clearly.
