Fiji 2001 - 2019 - 18 y/o - The Rum Cask - Pot Still - 55,7%
Photo taken somewhere in Stuttgart
Today's patient originates far away from the Carribbean Islands, actually from the opposite side of the world. It's not written on the label, but we strongly assume that this cask was distilled at the South Pacific Distillery on Fiji. Single cask and pot still, the basic requirements could be worse.
Nose
Good lord, what is this? That's so different compared to all the rums we had to date. The bouquet is odd and exotic and brings you straight to a tropical Island (no we're not influenced by the label, we promise!). First there is green banana, freshly chopped tamarind and manioc, plus sugar cane fried in melted butter. This creation is thoroughly seasoned with pure vanilla (a lot of vanilla). But it's not the familiar vanilla flavour, given by toasted american oak's additive cask maturation, but the purest vanila pods from Réunion. A really entertaining and exotic bouquet. With water: The fruits are taking command now.
Palate
This is shamanic stuff! Plenty of herbal, vegetal and sweet flavours are dancing around on our palate like crazy. Hard to unravel this compact package. Shall we? Ground tamarind powder in sweet vanilla pudding, new plastics, pink grapefruits juice and banana milkshake, seasoned with mint and tobacco leaves. Weird and exotic combination we know, but this somehow works very well. With water: Becoming sweeter and creamier now. But no new flavours on the table.
Rating
From all the continentaly aged rums we've had to date this was one from the high class shelf. Uniquely different, highly entertaining and nicely balanced. Pricewise this was a true bargain before the cask sold out. For us it's not an everyday sipper, but definitely a broadening of horizons and a must have in every diversified liquor cabinet. In terms of price value ratio Germany's independent rum bottlers became so strong nowadays and are definitely playing in the top league.
