Asta Morris South Pacific Rasta Morris 2009

Asta Morris South Pacific Rasta Morris 2009 is an eleven year old single cask from the South Pacific Distilleries in Fiji, bottled by the Belgian house Asta Morris under its playful Rasta Morris rum imprint. Matured in an ex bourbon barrel and offered at full cask strength, 60.5%, unsweetened, it captures the funky, high ester side of Fijian rum that has won the distillery a following among lovers of pot still intensity.

Fiji sits in the funky camp alongside Jamaica, and this bottling leans into it. The nose is loaded with esters, fruit schnapps and a smoky, almost peated note, while the palate turns salty and savoury with olive brine and more smoke than sweetness. The finish is salty, bitter and astringent, the kind of profile that polarises. This is not a crowd pleaser but an adventurous, full proof sipper for palates that already enjoy Hampden style hogo or smoke forward whisky, best approached slowly and with water on hand.