Elixir Distillers of London Black Tot Rum Rum Trail 2014

This Rum Trail bottling under the Black Tot label from Elixir Distillers of London takes Fiji as its single origin, part of a new label exploring rums from across the globe. A molasses rum vintage 2014, given eleven years in Ex-Bourbon oak and bottled at 48%, it shows Fiji in a more polished, woody guise than the island's wilder, funkier side.

The nose is woody and fruity with plum and raisin, while the palate turns fresh and floral over a woody base with a spicy edge. The finish brings woody, peppery spice with a note of coffee. Tasters describe it as well buttered and nutty, a greedy, moreish character that stays balanced rather than intense, the age and the bourbon cask rounding off Fiji's sharper edges. It makes an approachable, well aged introduction to Fijian rum, a comfortable woody sipper for those who want the island's character in a gentler, more refined form.