Chemist / Brand Ambassador

[El Dorado]

Hi all you rum loving folks,
My name is Carl Kanto and I am the Chemist / Brand Ambassador of my company, Demerara Distillers Limited. For those who do not know, we are the producers of the world famous El Dorado rums. We are located in Guyana, South Amerara, on the east bank of the Demerara river. In Guyana we have been in rum production for over three and one half centuries and even with the passing of time we have maintained tradition - we have the only operating wooden continuous and pot stills in the world.
Happy to be a part of the rum family so let's talk and drink rum.

[angelsword]

Welcome to the MORum Forums Karl. I am a great admirer of the El Dorado line of rums.

[Tiare]

And so am i..as many of you know, i never cease telling you how much i love the El D15..its been my fav rum for about 15 years now.

Welcome to the forum!

That you have the only operating wooden continuous and pot stills in the world is fantastic!

[RobertBurr]

Carl, welcome aboard. There are many big fans of your rums here, including myself. I'd like to visit the distillery sometime later this year to learn more about the process and the art of making rum in Guyana.

[Don Piero]

Welcome Carl. Love your rum. The 21yr old is my favourite. Your rum is so distinctive/different from others I have tried.

[frenchrumlover]

welcome carl.i am a fanatic of your rum :Dand you ll find lot of people like me on this website

[Michael]

Welcome to the forums Carl.

We love the whole range of El Dorado rums. Once tasted, how can one get along without that deep Demerara flavor?

[Tiare]

Once tasted, how can one get along without that deep Demerara flavor?

A wonderful and oh so true statement :D

[SamuraiBartender]

Indeed, to chime in with the rest, El Dorado is very possibly my favorite line of rums - equally good clear through the various kinds.

An absolute pleasure to have you here Mr. Kanto!
Cheers!

[Hank Koestner]

Welcome to the forums! I have sung the praises of your rums many times on this forum. If you might, I would love to know a little more about how you create these great blends of rum.(within reason, of course. I know there are things that we wont be privy to) The blending and aging process, how you deal with the Angel's share, etc. Thank you, Mr Kanto! Salud!

[JMac]

Welcome....love the El Dorado 5, 12, and 15 year. Hate the fact that the BCLDB has discontinued the El Dorado line.

[Rumpelteazer]

Sad that El Dorado is also not available in Pennsylvania.

[Don Piero]

This past weekend, I was able to try the El Dorado Single Barrel and will admit I was disappointed. Happy I did not shell out the $99 Cdn to buy it, but disappointed in the taste profile. Although this is a good rum, the distinctive Demerara flavor that is so prevalent in your other rums is not present in this one. This leads me to believe that there is a lot of blending in the 15 and 21yr olds to get that distinctive taste.

[El Dorado]

Carl, welcome aboard. There are many big fans of your rums here, including myself. I'd like to visit the distillery sometime later this year to learn more about the process and the art of making rum in Guyana.

Please feel free to let me know when you are in Guyana and I will surely tour you our distillery. We have also started a rum heritage centre to reflect our 350+ years in rum production in Guyana. You are welcome to visit this also.

[El Dorado]

Welcome to the forums! I have sung the praises of your rums many times on this forum. If you might, I would love to know a little more about how you create these great blends of rum.(within reason, of course. I know there are things that we wont be privy to) The blending and aging process, how you deal with the Angel's share, etc. Thank you, Mr Kanto! Salud!

For any great product the starting ingredients are the most important players - in our case it is the products that we put to age. We have kept to tradition - rums we have produced over the last 31/2 centuries we still do produce today, same quality. Unlike other producers who hve moved to producing light rums we have kept to our unique Demerara flovours that had made our rums then and now the best in the world.
With respect to the Angel's share, it is a little on the higher side but that is what makes it so different - the rum works the barrels more under our conditions.

[El Dorado]

Welcome....love the El Dorado 5, 12, and 15 year. Hate the fact that the BCLDB has discontinued the El Dorado line.

Hope they reconsider reintroducing the El Dorado line - you can't keep a good rum down.

[angelsword]

... the rum works the barrels more under our conditions.

Do you use barrels other than oak? What sizes of barrels?

[angelsword]

For any great product the starting ingredients are the most important players -

How many different stills are used? Obviously the 2 wooden pot stills and the wooden Coffey still. What others?

[El Dorado]

This past weekend, I was able to try the El Dorado Single Barrel and will admit I was disappointed. Happy I did not shell out the $99 Cdn to buy it, but disappointed in the taste profile. Although this is a good rum, the distinctive Demerara flavor that is so prevalent in your other rums is not present in this one. This leads me to believe that there is a lot of blending in the 15 and 21yr olds to get that distinctive taste.

Sorry that you were disappointed. All of our rums are blended rums between continuous and pot still rums to give that unique blends of flovours the makes up the bouquet of the rum. With the single rums, these are distillate from one still, aged and bottled. They are quite unique in their flavours - the single barrel ICBU is from the 4 column savalle still, light and has a sugary type of aroma, the single barrel EHP is from the wooden coffey still, medium and has a fruity aroma, the single barrel PM is from the double wooden pot still, heavy and has more woody potty aroma, more like a cognac. So you see we have different rums for different individuals depending on their taste. Probably if you had known what to expect you would not have been disappointed.

[El Dorado]

Do you use barrels other than oak? What sizes of barrels?

Only oak barrels are used and they are approximately 205 litres in total volume.

[El Dorado]

How many different stills are used? Obviously the 2 wooden pot stills and the wooden Coffey still. What others?

Along with the wooden stills we also have three 2 column metal coffey stills and two 4 columns savalle stills.

[Don Piero]

Sorry that you were disappointed. All of our rums are blended rums between continuous and pot still rums to give that unique blends of flovours the makes up the bouquet of the rum. With the single rums, these are distillate from one still, aged and bottled. They are quite unique in their flavours - the single barrel ICBU is from the 4 column savalle still, light and has a sugary type of aroma, the single barrel EHP is from the wooden coffey still, medium and has a fruity aroma, the single barrel PM is from the double wooden pot still, heavy and has more woody potty aroma, more like a cognac. So you see we have different rums for different individuals depending on their taste. Probably if you had known what to expect you would not have been disappointed.

It was the EHP that I tried and the LCBO carries. Reading your descriptions, I think I would have preferred the PM version. Thanks for the great info:).

[Don Piero]

Hope they reconsider reintroducing the El Dorado line - you can't keep a good rum down.

You can't keep a good rum down is right. I know with the El Dorado 21yo, the LCBO shows it being discontinued (currently with zero inventory) but they have ensured me that they will have it at Christmas time. The 15yo is stocked all year.

[RobertBurr]

What a pleasure it is to enjoy an illuminating discourse with one intimately familiar with the process at this legendary rum distillery family. Thanks for contributing some time and knowledge to rum enthusiasts here online.

I understand Demerara has significant stock of bulk aged rums available and supplies product for numerous private labels. Is that true?

[rumdreams]

I have a start up company. I have an amazing marketing idea, name, investment capital, and bottling company. All I need now is the rum. Does Demerara work with providing new companies with rum? I love the demerara rums and have family in guyana. Please contact me asap.

zyoungbizman@yahoo.com

[rumdreams]

I was actually interested in contacting Demerara. I have an amazing idea for a start up here in New York. I have plenty of investment capital, a bottling company, and a great marketing plan. Now all I need is the rum. Does demerara work with start-ups and provide rums for outside companies. Any of your assistance would be highly appreciated.

[Dood]

I've been away from the forum for over a week now, but I wanted to join the chorus of "Welcomes" and praise for the El Dorado rums...which reminds me that my 15yo is getting low...

[Lew Barrett]

I enjoyed a glass of ED12 with a Padron 1964 last night. What a screaming combo!

[El Dorado]

I understand Demerara has significant stock of bulk aged rums available and supplies product for numerous private labels. Is that true?

We have warehousing capacity of about 60000 to 65000 barrels. Most of these rums are for our marks but we do sell small quantities to private labels.

[El Dorado]

...which reminds me that my 15yo is getting low...

Refill immediately. Too late,too late will be the cry of many.

[Tiare]

Most of these rums are for our marks but we do sell small quantities to private labels.

I wonder..is the Silver Seal rum such a private label?

[El Dorado]

I wonder..is the Silver Seal rum such a private label?

I am not sure. Generally most of these private labels would indicate on the bottle (label) if the base spirit is from Demerara.

[Tiare]

OK, on my bottle its written pure demerara.

[Freeki_Tiki]

Welcome. I am a huge fan of El Dorado Rums. I am glad you have joined us.. now how about sending all of us a bottle of 21 year each ;)

[El Dorado]

OK, on my bottle its written pure demerara.

Good marketing strategy. Can't say if the statement is correct.

[El Dorado]

Welcome. I am a huge fan of El Dorado Rums. I am glad you have joined us.. now how about sending all of us a bottle of 21 year each ;)

Sure, why not? At a very minimal price of cost plus shipping.

[Tiare]

Took a new look at the bottle, i forgot to say that its distilled at the Diamond distillery.

[El Dorado]

Took a new look at the bottle, i forgot to say that its distilled at the Diamond distillery.

Like I had mentioned earlier, we do sell bulk spirit and private labels would buy these product and age and/or bottle same under their trade name.There is no gurantee that the entire content is Demerara rum.

[Tiare]

Thank you Carl!

This is valuable and interesting information to me.

[Freeki_Tiki]

Sure, why not? At a very minimal price of cost plus shipping.

This would be great as I can not find your rum locally. I would love to get some 21 year. Heck I would like to have a few bottles of 12 and 15 in reserve as well.

[Freeki_Tiki]

Do you produce Lemon Hart? If so, you really need to increase the availability of Lemon Hart 151 in the US. I have lots of recipes that call for 151 demerara, and no rum to use for them.

[Hank Koestner]

There is a bottle of ED 25 just tempting me at Joseph's Liquor Store......
At 300 I have to save my pennies....the tasting is still on for June 6th and we are featuring ED 5, 15 and 21 as one of the brands.

[Tiare]

I know how it feels..i haven`t even tried the 21 yet..

[El Dorado]

Do you produce Lemon Hart? If so, you really need to increase the availability of Lemon Hart 151 in the US. I have lots of recipes that call for 151 demerara, and no rum to use for them.

No we do not produce Lemon Hart. I think this is produced in England but it is from our base spirit, that is spirit that was bought from bulk shipment.

[El Dorado]

I know how it feels..i haven`t even tried the 21 yet..

You're missing real good stuff.

[Count Silvio]

ED 21 is a real expensive luxury where I live, Finland the rum sahara. I once had a glass of it at a local cigar bar who had a special offer. I don't remember much about it but I remember it was a bit drier than ED 15, which I absolutely love (http://www.refinedvices.com/El-Dorado-Special-Reserve-15-Year-Old-Rum-Guyana-South-America). I should really save up some cash and do a proper tasting. Of course once I've got that I would need to get my hands on the 25 year old.

El Dorado Superior Demerara Dark Rum is not bad either. By the way can you answer if there has been a change in recipe or if this product varies from batch to batch?

I've noticed color difference between the two bottles of El Dorado Dark rum I have. The other one had a different nose and different taste as well. I am planning on doing a comparison review in the near future for more accurate description.

[Tiare]

You're missing real good stuff.

Believe me..its only a matter of time before i try it..i have something real nice to look forward to!:)

[Michael]

It would have been better to have asked. Sorry for the error on Lemon Hart in the white rum thread.

[El Dorado]

El Dorado Superior Demerara Dark Rum is not bad either. By the way can you answer if there has been a change in recipe or if this product varies from batch to batch?

I've noticed color difference between the two bottles of El Dorado Dark rum I have. The other one had a different nose and different taste as well. I am planning on doing a comparison review in the near future for more accurate description.

There is no change in the recipe and the product should not vary from batch to batch. The colour difference can come from exposure to sunlight or bright light. This change in colouration can alter the taste of the product.

[Rumpelteazer]

Sad that El Dorado is also not available in Pennsylvania.

But it is available in Buffalo, NY!

Just found the 15 in stock at Premier Liquors. Gonna do a tasting tonight. :D

[Michael]

Is Carl Kanto still making the posts under the name El Dorado? The recent style seems markedly different and it wouldn't be right to address the poster as Carl if a change has been made. My apologies if an advisory post was missed. Please let us know when you have a chance.

[Rum Runner]

Is Carl Kanto still making the posts under the name El Dorado?

Michael, here is an email from Carl I received after posting your question to him.

"Re: Ministry of Rum:

'Glad to hear from you Rum Runner. Yes I still do post under El Dorado"

[El Dorado]

Is Carl Kanto still making the posts under the name El Dorado? The recent style seems markedly different

Hi Michael, I am still posting under the name El Dorado. Gurantee you I have not changed and so has my style. Please feel free to contact me. Thanks.

[scarphe]

a quick question my local store is runing out of El Dorado in mexico, veracruz to be exact. and it appears they will nto be buying anymore. i looked on the website and did nto see the distributor in mexico, could you please tll me if you still have one hre in mexico and f so coudl you pass me the contact info to purchase more.

thank you,
scarphe