The Rum Cask 2001 Fiji 19-Year

Another 2001' Fiji from this Independant bottler. There have been a 10y, a sublime 15y, some excellent 16 and 18y already. This particular one is great, let it breathe a little bit when you open the bottle, as usual for this kind of bomb. The perfect balance between the funky, estery, dirty, very waxy side of those heavy pot still fijians and on the other side a lot of subtleness and complexity : wood, minerality, overripe fruits (mango), liquorice, olive, anis seeds and medicinals at the end. Wow ! Almost as excellent as their now sold-out 15y.
As usual there are a lot in common with Jamaicans rums but it is still different with its own identity and this one really improved with the quite long aging.

Caution, this is a heavy, full bodied pot-still rum, not a sweetened rum liqueur. Please keep it in mind before buying this bottle.

The rum was produced in 2001 on Fiji by the South Pacific distillery in the pot style process and was allowed to store continental for 19 years in oak barrels. The rum was bottled in 2020 with 54.8% barrel strength without dyes, sugar or filtration in 0.5l bottles. The Rum Cask has noted the most important information on the bottle.

The rum is an absolute force after pouring in the glass. Intensely, ester notes come unfiltered into the nose. I would have bet on a Jamaica rum immediately in a blind tasting. The rum must breathe for at least 30 minutes for it to calm down. Lots of glue, fermented tropical fruit and a clear medicinal note.

On the palate, the rum is very direct and the alcohol has a certain sharpness. A mild sweetness comes with a good portion of ester. Fruity notes are rather less to be found. It remains medical. It's more barrel influence than expected. Tannins are clear to taste and the wood is very present at the exit. A good mixture of glue and bitter substances stays in the mouth for a long time. The rum than remains very present.

I enjoy the rum a lot because it is direct and strong. In fact, the rum could have been in the barrel a little too long, as the bitter substances are very present. In comparison, the RA Fiji makes it a little better. Nevertheless, an absolutely great rum.

Der Rum wurde 2001 auf Fiji von der South Pacific Destillerie im Pot Stil Verfahren hergestellt und durfte kontinental 19 Jahre in Eichenfässern lagern. Der Rum wurde 2020 mit 54,8% Fasstärke ohne Farbstoffe, Zucker oder Filtration in 0,5l Flaschen abgefüllt. The Rum Cask hat die wichtigsten Informationen auf der Flasche vermerkt.

Der Rum ist nach dem Einschenken im Glas eine absolute Wucht. Intensiv kommen Ester Noten ungefiltert in die Nase. Ich hätte in einer Blind Verkostung sofort auf einen Jamaika Rum gewettet. Der Rum muss mindestens 30min atmen, damit er sich beruhigt. Viel Klebstoff, vergorene tropische Frucht und eine klare medizinische Note.

Am Gaumen ist der Rum sehr direkt und der Alkohol hat eine gewisse Schärfe. Eine milde Süße kommt mit einer guten Portion Ester. Fruchtige Noten sind eher weniger zu finden. Es bleibt medizinisch. Es ist mehr Fasseinfluss als erwartet. Tannine sind deutlich zu schmecken und das Holz ist beim Abgang sehr präsent. Eine gute Mischung aus Klebstoff und Bitterstoffen bleibt lange im Mund. Der Rum bleibt lange sehr präsent.

Mir macht der Rum viel Spaß, da er direkt und kräftig ist. Tatsächlich könnte der Rum etwas zu lange im Fass gelegen haben, da die Bitterstoffe sehr präsent sind. Im Vergleich macht es der RA Fiji dann doch etwas besser. Trotzdem ein absolut toller Rum.

Oh yes, the nose suggests a typical Fiji rum like you will love it.
Plastic in the air and vegetables (pickled tomatoes). There is also some petroleum in the nose, which I enjoy very much. Pickled tomatoes are not that rotten like in younger releases (I like it). The taste became mild in this additional year (it losts almost 1%). If you love Fiji rum, you must buy it, my recommendation for Fiji rum lovers.

Nose: vegetables (pickled tomatoes)**, plastic***, salt **, petrolium**, some honey*, white oak/earth **, gum* and pepper
Taste initial: great start, pepper, plastic, pickled tomatoes, salt, honey
Middle: honey, salted melon, petroleum, pepper, pickled tomatoes, plastic
Finish (long and mild): pepper, vegetables again, oak, honey, just keep it in your mouth, the interplay of flavors will last forever
Aftertaste: firmint, pepper with slightly vegetables and plastic (love it)
The aftertaste is still there after you drunk another rum, it lasts for 1h or longer.

For Fiji rum lovers it's clearly a 10. The 19y is a damn good Fiji rum. It's mildness is great and very enjoyable. 92 points.

Sweetness: 1.5/5
Vegetables 3/5
Spice: 2/5
Complexity: 4/5
Value (65€): 5/5
Experience level: professional