Rum Expedition – Guyana
Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 10, 2012
Wooden Coffey Still (Photo Courtesy Demerara Distillers Limited)
Just before Christmas I received some really good news. I had been invited to join a Rum Expedition to Guyana to visit the Demerara Distillers (DDL) facilities on a four-day trip which would also include two days of touring this tropical country to learn about the history and culture of Guyana. The expedition was the idea of Mr. Sameroo, (Managing Director, DDL) who asked Woodman Wines and Spirits (of Toronto) to organize a Canadian delegation with the aim of building our knowledge with respect to both Demerara Distillers and the Country of Guyana.
I am, of course, extremely excited because Demerara Distillers is home to what I consider to be two of the Great Wonders of the Rum World, their one of a kind Wooden Continuous Coffey or EHP Wooden Still which is the last fully functional still of its kind in the world today, and DDL’s last two fully functional original Wooden Pot Stills (one single and one double) which are each over 250 years old. Finally, although it is not quite as famous, there is another unique column still at the facility which I would love to see, Demerara Distillers’ French Savalle Column Still.
These stills are at the very heart of DDL’s rum production, and being allowed to tour the facility and watch how the rum is made is almost too good to be true. The trip has been described to me as a working tour which means (hopefully) that I will be able to see these famous stills up close doing the work that brings the famous Demerara Rum to the bottle.
As excited as I am about visiting Demerara Distillers and learning about their rum, I am equally excited about touring the Country of Guyana and learning about the history and culture of this remarkable country. Guyana is home to the Kaieteur Falls, which is the world’s largest single drop waterfall, measuring about 225 meters. This impressive natural wonder is just one of the sites which I will be privileged to visit. The trip will include visits to historic Fort Island, and an overnight stay at the wonderful Baganara Resort. I bought a new camera just for the trip, and I hope to share as much of the tour as possible with everyone who reads my blog.
So I hope everyone wishes me safe travels, as I will be arriving in Guyana on April 12, and returning to Canada on April 16. Hopefully I will have a great story to tell when I return.
Cheers Everyone!
2 Responses to “Rum Expedition – Guyana”
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Josh Miller said
Safe travels, Chip! Eager to see the pictures and hear the story when you return. Cheers
Jack Fetterman (Tabuzak) said
Fabulous! Have a great time. Looking forward to your report, Chip.