Overview
Brand: Dead Reckoning
Origin: Beenleigh Rum Distillery, Eagleby, Queensland, Australia
Still: Pot
Age: 9 years
Finish: ex-Bourbon
ABV: 55%
Dead Reckoning is one of the newer independent bottlers (IB) on the scene. Founded by Justin Boseley and based in Australia, Dead Reckoning is working to bring a number of rum expressions to enthusiasts.
Their initial offerings include single origin Australia, Fiji, Antigua, and Barbados rums, as well as blends of Australian and Caribbean rum. Dead Reckoning recently became available in the USA through Spaghetti Western Imports.
Dead Reckoning Australia 9 year is a blend of pot & column distillate produced at Beenleigh in Eaglesby, Queensland, from a molasses base. These rums were stored in ex-Bourbon casks and aged for 4 years in that tropical climate, before being transferred to Europe for a further 5 years of aging. The rum was then bottled at 55% ABV.
I got this sample, along with a few others, through the Florida Rum Society; I'll be taking a look at the other offerings in the upcoming reviews.
Appearance
Gold, medium viscosity
Nose
Honeysuckle, orange marmalade, golden raisins, lemon zest, pastry dough
Palate
Honeysuckle, sunflowers oil, vanilla, citrus zest, orange marmalade, butterscotch
Finish
Long, hot, tannic; orange rind, oak, vanilla, cinnamon, saltwater taffy
Rating: 6/10
Summary
Dead Reckoning's expression of Beenleigh rum is quite tasty, although noticeably different from other 100% tropically-aged, pure pot still expressions I've had.
Honeysuckle, orange marmalade, vanilla, and citrus comprise the core of the notes throughout the tasting, falling in line with other Beenleighs. The palate expands with sunflower oil and butterscotch, leading into a drier and tannic finish of orange rind, oak, cinnamon, and slightly sweet and chewy saltwater taffy.
This is fun, although a tad more drier on the mid- and back-palate, into the finish. Still, it's nice to see more Beenleigh available from other IBs in the US.