Doorly's 3 Year Old Rum

Three years old and made at Foursquare. If you know anything about rum, that second half of the sentence is the interesting one.

Richard Seale's distillery in Barbados has spent the last two decades quietly becoming the most respected name in the category, largely by refusing to add sugar, colouring or anything else to the bottle. Doorly's is the house range, and the 3 Year Old is the cheapest way to find out what that discipline actually tastes like. Pot and column spirit, three years in ex-bourbon oak in a Barbadian warehouse — which does more to a rum than three years anywhere in Europe would.

The nose is bright and unmistakably young: mango, banana, a bit of pineapple, vanilla sitting underneath. On the palate it is light-bodied and properly dry — no sugary landing, just orchard fruit, a dusting of coconut and a clean oak finish that stops rather than fades. Nothing here is hiding.

It is a mixing rum, and it is very good at that job. A Daiquiri made with this costs almost nothing and tastes like it came from a decent bar.

How to Serve

Straight into a Daiquiri: 50ml rum, 25ml lime, 15ml sugar syrup, shaken hard. Also fine in a tall glass with soda and a wedge of lime. Neat it is pleasant rather than profound, and that is honest enough at this price.

Where to Drink It

Trailer Happiness in Notting Hill for the Daiquiri list. Bar Lotus if you want somewhere unhurried. Boisdale for a long evening.

Food Pairings

Grilled prawns with plenty of lime. Salted almonds work too, and a bowl of olives never hurts.