Ferroni Beenleigh (Bar 1802) 2016

Maison Ferroni, the small Provence house working in the unsweetened cask strength tradition, selected this Beenleigh from Queensland, vintage 2016 and held at a vigorous 57%. Beenleigh is Australia's oldest continuously operating distillery, and its rums tend toward a fruity, leathery depth that this bottling shows in full.

Molasses based and pot distilled, the spirit is double matured in Provence in the house manner, often in ex-sweet-wine oak, which adds to its layered character. The nose is ample and deep with orange, leather and vanilla, the palate stays coherent and a touch more woody, and the finish runs warm with spice, dried fruit and oak. Bottled at full proof without added sugar, it is built for slow sipping, the strength carrying rather than overwhelming the fruit.