Transcontinental Rum Line 2014 Fiji 4-Year

This Fijian rum is aged quite shortly, about 2 years in the tropics and 1 year in Europe. It is distilled in pot stills from fermented molasses.
This rum is extremely fragrant in the nose. Aromas of freshly mowed grass and blooming flowers. Unlike other rums, it is not sweet at all in the nose, so it definitely stands out in comparison to other rums. Altough this rum contains 48% of alcohol, it doesn't taste like that. The taste start mildly sweet, with some acidity that reminds of grapefruit. After that some dried tropical fruits take over with a punch of herbs and some bitters. It is very complex. The aftertaste is a combination of the bitterness of a good espresso and the herbal touch of South African Rooibos tea. All in all, this rum is completely different than I have ever had before, and that is a compliment.

This bottling of the French La Maison du Whisky (LMDW) is not for every rum drinker. This amazing high esther 100% pot still rum botteled at 48% vol is only aged 4 yours between Fiji and France but already offer a rich and opluent profile.

Nose very vegetal on the tropical fruits and solvent notes typical of pot still. In the mouth, this high hester rum shows great notes of leather and warm spices with a finish on the solvent.

Definitely my favourite pot still worth a try.

Thanks a lot, Vomi, for sharing a sample with me!

I opened the sample and poured some rum into the glass, then took a photo. Before I even began formal evaluation of this spirit, I've already sensed distinct fruity aromas. The main theme is banana, followed by pineapple and mango. These fruits seem long overripe, the nose is pretty sweet. Then it turns out that, while the sweet aromas are high above the glass, drawing the nose near reveals quite the opposite: grassy and sour notes with nail polish remover and chemical acidity. Ultimately I sensed raisins, as a sort of agreement between these two categories.

This rum is warming up from the first sip. It is naturally sweet with yellow fruits; especially banana and coconut. Then some milky notes appear, which add up to sensations of coconut milk, vanilla, cream and pudding, accompanied by the creamy texture of rum mixed with saliva.

After a transition moment of bitter orange and grapefruit, we smoothly enter the finish composed of dark chocolate, dry cocoa, smoke and wood.

I definitely expected less from this immature rum. It's flavors and tastes tell a consistent tropical story, with moderate complexity and natural sweetness.

Taste and smells like an good funky jamaican rum with a plum finish. Supprised is the word.

The version I tried had a slightly different label. It was still “Fiji 2014” but the label was mostly red and had a 5 year age statement (aged 2 years and Fiji + 3 years in Europe).

The taste was much like a French Agricole rum, but more gentle. I typically don’t like Agricole, but this one was very approachable; not too grassy or earthy. Overall a very enjoyable neat sipper.

I want to not like it because it’s overly funky and i only like jamaican level funk but what started as a 6 rating turned into a 7 as I continued to sip it. Spoiled fruit on the nose like an exaggerated hampden quick spike of sweetness on taste with long esther finish and slight burn. Not for beginners

There is a nice funky bouqet of aromas on the nose.
On the palate, I find it nicely savory / umami.
I liked sipping this rum!

Fairly pale rum from Fiji, with a short age in the tropics and even shorter age in europe. While not especially high proof, the first sip has a bit of a bite. Leads with “funk” characteristic in typical Jamaican rums, with some pleasing floral notes and dried fruits. Delightful for sipping on it’s own, but I think it makes a great daiquiri; it really elevates a simple drink

Closely resembles Jamaican rums. I am referring to the special funk, probably closest reference is mango.

taste - 8.5/10
smell - 8/10
sweetness - 7/10
price/value rating - 7.5/10