Overview
Brand: Berrys'
Origin: South Pacific Distillers, Lautoka, Viti Levu, Fiji
Still: Column
Age: 9 years
Finish: ex-Bourbon*
ABV: 46%
We return to look at another bottling by Berry Bros. & Rudd, an English wine & spirits shop located in the lofty St. James's neighborhood, a stone's throw away from Buckingham Palace. It's been over 200 reviews since the last BBR bottle we walked through; this time, we head to the Pacific instead of the Caribbean.
Berrys' Finest Fijian Rum 9 year is a molasses-based, column-distilled rum originally produced at South Pacific Distillers in Fiji. Likely a blend of a single vintage, this rum was aged 9 years in an unknown split of tropical and continental aging, before being bottled for Berry Bros. & Rudd at 46% ABV.
Appearance
Gold, medium viscosity
Nose
Underripe banana, starfruit, core of kiwi, honey, golden raisins, touch of melted plastic
Palate
Starfruit, golden raisins, honey, cinnamon, lemongrass, citrus marmalade
Finish
Medium length, fruity, slightly bitter; honey, golden raisins, rotting starfruit, freshly-washed plastic
Rating: 6/10
Summary
I'm a bit surprised that after a couple years sitting in the bottle at a low level, that this tastes this good. At 92 proof, there is plenty of complexity to be experienced. I would place this mmedium-aged Fiji rum in the middle ground between "bright tropical fruits" and "melted plastic" that other enthusiasts find in rums from this origin.
Banana, starfruit, and kiwi are the fruity notes that come across first on the nose, backed up by honey and golden raisins; both come through later on in the palate after sipping. These are joined by herbaceous cinnamon and lemongrass, and augmented by mixed-citrus marmalade. The finish is medium-length, fruity, and a touch bitter on the backend, featuring, among previously-mentioned flavors, the taste of a plastic cup that has just been washed.
Honestly, I think a 6 out of 10 is a good rating for this rum, but I would think that a slightly longer-aged and higher proof version would sit at a 7 or 8, easily. There's a lot of potential in this bottle, so hopefully we'll see another expression from Berry Bros. & Rudd with a little more strength behind it.