Overview
Brand: La Maison & Velier, Flag series
Origin: South Pacific Distillers, Lautoka, Viti Levu, Fiji
Still: Pot
Age: 12 years
Finish: ex-Bourbon
ABV: 64.9%
In 2023, the Flag Series by La Maison & Velier debuted in the US, starting with Guyana 1998 and Trinidad 2002. This project was intended to capture the essence of a producer's capabilities in an unrivaled, additive-free, single cask experience. The next installment arrived last Fall, which included rums from Cambodia, Jamaica, and Fiji.
Flag Series Fiji 2012 is another single cask, cask strength expression. The molasses-based rum was produced at South Pacific Distillers in Lautoka, Fiji, in 2012. This was placed in an ex-Bourbon cask (#F12FPBP01) and spent 2 years aging at origin, and a further 10 years aging in Europe. It was bottled by La Maison & Velier at 64.9% ABV, and yielded 238 bottles in total.
Appearance
Marigold, low viscosity
Nose
Playdoh, model glue, underripe kiwi, marzipan, honeydew, fresh pineapple
Palate
Fresh pineapple, honeydew, Playdoh, underripe kiwi, fresh pineapple juice, starfruit
Finish
Medium-long, funky, bright; starfruit, pineapple, mango, Playdoh, hint of butterscotch
Rating: 8/10
Summary
This offering of Fiji rum is perhaps my favorite expression from the Pacific island that I've come across; it's got a great combination of age, funk, character, and proof.
On the nose, I get a heap of Playdoh and model glue funk that turns into fruity kiwi, honeydew, and pineapple, with a nutty marzipan note mixed in. Those flavors are joined by starfruit on the palate, which has a more "acidic fruit and glue" funk, versus a "rotting fruit" funk we see in Jamaican or Saint Lucian rum. The bright, medium-long finish continues the funk, and leads from the palate with an addition of mango and a hint of butterscotch.
I'm very happy I got my hands on this edition of Fijian rum from the Flag Series. It's a delicious single barrel expression that manages to package all the highlights of the Fiji style in one bottle.