Angel's Share Title
When I saw the announcement about this rum, a couple of things interested me about the product. The first was the involvement of South Pacific Distilleries in Lautoka, Fiji. The distillery has gained a reputation for producing high-quality rums with a range of age statements that have used a mix of tropical and continental aging. This range of releases has led to a growing fan base who prefer 100% molasses-based pot still rums. The second factor was that Eric Kaye, owner of Holmes Cay Rum, is very meticulous during his process of picking rums for his single cask rum series and has a record of selecting high-quality tasting experiences. The rum in this bottling was distilled in 2009 and aged in ex-rum barrels in the United Kingdom for 13 years before being bottled in New York City in 2023. The rum is non-chill filtered and bottled at 58% ABV in 700 ml bottles.
Appearance
The rum is packaged in the standard 700 ml bottle with a wooden-capped synthetic cork. The label provides the core details of the product along with the bottle and cask number. The rum in the bottle and glass holds a pale amber color. Swirling the liquid produces a thick band that releases a couple of waves of fast moving legs and takes a few minutes to bead up and evaporate.
Aroma
The aroma of the rum leads with a citrus zest, followed by cinnamon, crème brûlée, cane honey, and gentle wood notes.
Palate
The first sip of the rum presented a swirl of chewy vanilla, cinnamon, black pepper, and heat from the alcohol. Additional sips manifest as toffee caramel popcorn, mocha coffee, and light oak tannins that linger in a long, sweet finish.
Review
Like the other Fijian rums, I enjoyed the flavor profile, and it made me think of it as something comparable with the Probitas and Equiano flavor profiles. The sweet and savory elements of it were something new, and I would recommend it for classic Daiquiris, Papa Dobles, and El Presidente cocktails. With it being a Holmes Cay product, we know that no sugar or additives were used, and the flavors came from the maturation process. It was new to experience a Fijian rum that was matured in something other than used bourbon casks, and I would be curious to know which rum company used the cask first. This rum is a straightforward recommendation for anyone who enjoys the Holmes Cay rum line or rums from Fiji.
