Beenleigh Plantation 2009 (Palo Cortado Sherry Cask Finish)

This Beenleigh 2009 single cask is a Maison Ferrand bottling that takes a pot still Australian rum and gives it a Palo Cortado sherry finish, aged a little over twelve years. It pours medium bodied, with sweet, fruity, cherry and spice notes on the nose hinting at the wine cask influence.

Though Maison Ferrand often works with dosage, this release is certified unsweetened, so its sweetness is sherry and fruit driven. The palate shows smoke, spice, sweetness and vanilla, with pear, apricot and citrus underneath, finishing smoky and herbal with citrus, a bittersweet sherry touch and a faint bitterness. The Palo Cortado cask gives it a distinctive, drier wine character rather than rich sweetness, making it a relaxed sipper or dessert companion. It is a low risk way for drinkers curious about Beenleigh and sherry finishes to explore the style, though it sits below the house's older releases.