Samaroli South Pacific Pacific Oblivion Blended Rum 2012

Samaroli is a historic Italian bottler known for elegant, unsweetened single casks at deliberately gentle proof, and this Pacific Oblivion is a South Pacific Fiji distilled in 2012, aged ten years and bottled at 45%. The nose leans into Fiji's more challenging aromatics, glue, petrol and a medicinal edge alongside marmalade, the kind of hydrocarbon funk the origin is prized and sometimes feared for.

Matured in ex bourbon and continentally aged in the Samaroli manner, the palate is floral, buttery and oily with that medicinal thread continuing. The reduction to 45% softens the spirit, and some find the result a little diluted and quiet on the palate relative to its expressive nose. Unsweetened and elegantly styled, it is best taken as a measured, aromatic Fiji for those who appreciate the origin's funkier register and Samaroli's restrained, lower proof house approach.