Beenleigh Double Barrel

Beenleigh Double Barrel comes from Beenleigh Artisan Distillery near Brisbane, one of the oldest continuously operating distilleries in Australia. It is a column distilled molasses rum aged five years in ex bourbon oak and bottled at 40%, a gentle entry point into the country's small but growing rum scene.

The nose is led by caramel, burnt sugar, barrel and wood, while the palate brings peppery oak, vanilla and a sweet edge that several drinkers find quite sugary. The surprise is the finish, which turns minty, peppery and fresh, giving the rum a lift it might not otherwise have. The body is fuller than the modest strength suggests, with fruit and vanilla emerging over time. Sweetness aside, it is a pleasant, oak driven sipper that shows Beenleigh's bourbon cask house style and offers an accessible look at Australian rum.