Fine Spirits Beenleigh Rum of the World 2016

This is Australian rum from Beenleigh, one of the country's oldest registered distilleries, distilled in 2016 on a pot still and chosen by Fine Spirits for their Rum of the World series. Bottled unsweetened at 46% after four years, it shows the lighter, fruit-led side of Australian pot still character rather than heavy funk.

The nose is full of orchard fruit, apple, pear and apricot, rounded by a soft butterscotch note, and the palate keeps that elegant, fruity line going with apple, fresh and dried apricot. One taster found a peppery, spicy disconnect between nose and mouth, a fair note that suggests a slightly youthful edge, but the overall impression is clean, bright and dry. It rewards patient neat sipping where its orchard fruit can open up, and it suits drinkers who like their pot still rum on the fresh, spice-tinged side rather than dark and sweet.