Velier Beenleigh Fine Australian Rum 2013

This is a tropically aged Australian rum from the Beenleigh distillery in Queensland, bottled at full proof by Velier under Luca Gargano. Beenleigh blends pot and column still spirit, and at ten years old this expression shows a structured, bourbon-adjacent side that opens up rewardingly with a little air in the glass.

Made from molasses and matured in ex-bourbon oak, it is dry and bright, leading with citrus and green apple before honey, vanilla, toasted oak and a nutty depth, finishing on dark chocolate, pepper and spice. Bottled unsweetened at 59%, it carries real punch and freshness, the higher strength framing the fruit rather than smothering it. For drinkers who like clean, dry, oak-driven rum and want to explore a region Velier rarely touches, it offers a fresh and balanced look once it has had time to breathe.