Dead Reckoning 10 Year Old Single Blended South Pacific Rum (700ml)

A departure from Dead Reckoning's 20 year old Bourbon cask release is this 20% pot and 80% column still blend, also entirely tropically aged with an Angel’s Share of 50%. Maturation took place in Fiji in a 40 year old barrel which previously held Muscat wine supplied by Charles Sturt Winery in New South Wales. Papaya, grilled pineapple, plantain and dried mango on the nose follow in a mouth filling attack that unfolds with baking spices, black currants and hints of crushed papaya seeds. There are also secondary notes of molasses, fruity dark chocolate and liquorice bullets, rounded off by pleasing spirit heat and moderate astringency. This punchy, tropical blend has a Jamaican swagger that recalls Hampden - though perhaps a slightly less complex, less refined version. Distilled in 1994, 1240 bottles are on offer at 47% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... The initial sip is reasonably spicy with a nice hit of oak and some Full-flavoured bourbon-esque spice. This quickly moves back to more of what we got on the nose. Juicy raisins, figs, bruised banana all come in nicely alongside a kind of pine-cone mixed with petrol type note. Which admittedly doesn’t sound all that appetising but works surprisingly well... Anyone delving deeper into the rum world will be aware that not all tasting notes sound as nice as they actually are (honest). As we move into the mid palate I’m noticing notes of dark chocolate and a touch of caramel. This is in addition to the wilder notes and we see some of the fruitiness fade slightly. Post sip as we savour the finish you will notice some of the fruity notes return – raisins and sultanas become prominent again alongside a very nice oaky fade. A touch of all spice and an after taste of coffee give this rum a very interesting and complex ending. I recently reviewed the 20 year old ex-bourbon cask rum from Dead Reckoning. Although this is half its age I must say I have taken just as much enjoyment out of this rum as I did that one. I’m very lucky to have tried both. Again this is highly recommended and with 1240 bottles available you should be able to find a bottle. 4.5 stars - thefatrumpirate.com