Tag Archive for: Fiji

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Dead Reckoning Rumolution 2025 – June 2025

DEAD RECKONING + SOUTH PACIFIC RUM + BARBADOS RUM + AUSSIE RUM – IT’S THE RUMOLUTION, BABY!

To celebrate the inaugural Rumolution Rum Festival, we’re proud to release the official souvenir Rumolution 2025 Rum to celebrate this historic occasion. Not just any rum but a unique Dead Reckoning blend of Aussie, South Pacific and Caribbean pot and column still rums. A special blend from three of the worlds most respected and awarded rum distilleries that has been given the Dead Reckoning signature ‘Adelaide Dry Aging Treatment’ by Justin Boseley.

So, what’s in the bottle? An international blend of rums designed to give the drinker an ‘around the world of rum’ experience. Three distinct regions, with distinct styles and terroirs combining a mix of oaks and barrel types, pot and column still rums from Australia, Barbados and the South Pacific!

Australia: An extremely well-travelled and worldly 9yo Aussie component from Beenleigh pot & column still molasses-based rum. Initially created at the legendary Beenleigh Distillery (a blend of pot and column still) and tropically aged on-site for 4 years in ex-bourbon casks. It was then sold to a ‘European rum buyer’ (cough E.A. Shear) and sat in a bond-store in Amsterdam for 5 more years of continental ageing.

South Pacific: A ten-year-old, muscat cask, 100% tropically aged, single blended pot and column still rum from the legendary South Pacific Distillery in Fiji.

Barbados: The Caribbean component of this rum is a funky Foursquare single cask, triple–matured, pure rum, no less than Ten years old. His cask held a mix of Foursquare pot and column distilled spirit – tropically matured in Barbados for 8 years in ex-bourbon then transported to Adelaide for ‘the Boseley treatment’. This consisted of 2 years in a 60-year-old Seppeltsfield Winery ex-Tawny.

The end result is a blend that gives a collective nod to the major rum flavours in the world. Caramels and liquorice, big fruits and some sweet, sweet Caribbean funk alongside the vanilla, biscuit spices, peppery notes and citrus influences from the different oaks.

Dead Reckoning Rumolution 2025

Now full disclosure – The Dead Reckoning Rumolution Rum will be available to buy directly at Rumolution at a slightly cheaper price (after all, event attendees should get some benefits, right?). We’re offering this to our members for a few reasons. Firstly, the Rumolution knows that by being held only in Brisbane (this year) will mean a lot of the country won’t have direct access to buy this rum on the day. Secondly, by bringing in the Rum Tribe on this fantastic blend, we can up the order number, thus bringing down the per bottle cost. And finally – well… yeah, promotion of the event itself. J

Rumolution is Happening on June 14th at ‘The Black’ in Albion, Brisbane. Rumolution brings together the best Rum producers and Rum lovers for an event to enjoy and remember. It’s a celebration of all things Rum, Rhum and Ron. One entry fee gets you access to around 70 different rums to try (from your own tasting glass – included with ticket). You can also buy any rums you like straight from the producer. Ask ‘em nicely and they’ll even sign your bottle if you like! If this sounds like your kind of party – get your tickets now , just click here!

Dead Reckoning Rumolution 2025
Members Extra
From a tiny NSW farm well known for its extraordinary Single Malt Whisky, comes a 5 year old pure single rum!

Our Tasting Notes:

Nose: The distinct terroirs coming through on the nose are awesome – Aussie liquorice and leather notes with Fiji dried dates and prunes and a distinct Jamaican ‘Foursquare funk’ element.

Palate: Rich and viscous (notably long legs on the glass too). Ripe soft plums, some mixed peel, Arnott’s spicy fruit roll biccies with caramel drizzle and some of mum’s custard on the side.

Finish: There’s a note of sweet unburnt cigar tobacco as the finish starts. The column still components of this blend really come out here for me as the finish becomes crisp and dry as it fades.

This is an all-round easy drinking rum – just as I hoped it would be. Bloody easy to drink neat, with much to discover and chat about – interesting trying to pick out what comes from where (in the flavours). But just as easy going in a rum and coke or (if you’re prepared to put the effort in) a classic daquiri (those Barbados funky notes really add depth to a daiquiri)!

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Dead Reckoning Rumolution Bottle
Dead Reckoning Rumolution Stats

FROM DEAD RECKONING

It was with great excitement that I received the request from Rumolution to create a blend like no other to commemorate the very first Rumolution!

This release was created with the hope that the three components of the blend can all be tasted without being outshined by another. 

It’s the first time I’ve combined a muscat cask with a bourbon cask & a port cask . The Sth pacific muscat adds layers of Dried fruits & figs , the Australian bourbon cask gives hints of pine & caramel whilst the port cask Barbados (Foursquare) throws dark chocolate, fresh roasted coffee & prunes into the fold . 

Combined you have a blend which I believe is the first of its kind created in the world. 

ABOUT DEAD RECKONING

Justin Boseley, has immersed himself in rum for the past 25 years; a journey starting as a deck scrubbing lad with a thirst for Rum and adventure culminated in him becoming a Chief Officer; driving billionaire’s mega yachts around the world. This life of salty seadog adventure took him to Rum’s heartland, the Caribbean islands for 6 months a year, every year.

When he wasn’t at the helm of a yacht he could be found hanging off a bar or at a distillery sampling the best the Caribbean rum scene had to offer. Upon ending his days at sea there was only one thing he knew better that navigating around the world’s oceans- that was Rum. For 15 years Justin has scoured the globe discovering & importing the world’s best rums into Australia.

Dead Reckoning is Australia’s first independent rum bottler.

Dead Reckoning Rumolution 2025

Dead Reckoning South Pacific – January 2024

Well welcome to 2024! Happy New Year Tribe and we are off and racing with a huge EXCLUSIVE AUSTRALIAN RELEASE to bring in the new year! The Dead Reckoning South Pacific

A ten-year-old, muscat cask, 100% tropically aged, single blended rum from the legendary South Pacific Distillery in Fiji…bring on the Dead Reckoning South Pacific!

The Dead Reckoning South Pacific – is a bit of a dichotomy.  The first impression is of one of a HUGE rum that absolutely CHARGES out of the bottle and rams into your olfactory system as you open it for the first time. It’s just such a, well, BIG smell it’s almost a little disconcerting imagining how it’s going to hit the palate…and yet when you do take your first sip, what strikes you is just how immensely well behaved this Fabulous Fijian is!      

Dead Reckoning South Pacific

Sometimes a rum has a story that defies belief. Sometimes a rum is ‘just right’ when an indy bottler finds it. Sometimes it needs nothing more – just a qualified eye in the right place at the right time… and a little bit of luck of course. This is the story of such a rum. Distilled in 1994 at South Pacific Distillery – a blend of both [‘double thumper’] pot and column still rum. It was tropically aged in Fiji in Australian Muscat Casks (from Charles Sturt Winery in Wagga Wagga to be precise!) for 10 years. In 2004, these casks were married into a single stainless steel tank. The tank was then shipped to an Amsterdam rum warehouse where it was promptly forgotten about. 

Forgotten about, that is, until in 2022 (a full 18 years later!) when a certain Justin Boseley was snooping around the dusty back corners of said warehouse sniffing out unusual rums (he’s like a bloody truffle-pig in a bond-store, people!). I like to imagine he climbed over a few racks of barrels, before pulling back a dusty tarp to reveal this mysterious stainless vessel. I also like to imagine the smile that formed when he cracked the lid and first smelled the precious cargo it held.

Normally, at this point Justin would put the tank on a boat, sail it to Adelaide where he would finish it in a cask or casks he felt would improve the flavour in the dry Adelaide heat. For example, last time we offered a South Pacific Distillery Dead Reckoning (the 21 year old Mutiny South Pacific, back in 2021) Justin had finished it in Cream Apera Casks in Adelaide for 12 months.  This time though – for the first time – Justin had found a rum that was absolutely ready to rock and roll just as it was. So he bottled it onsite in Amsterdam and then sent it to Europe and the USA as part of his first onslaught into these huge markets.

Now we’re big fans and good friends of the Dead Reckoning brand – and it’s this ongoing friendship that has allowed us to received an allocation of an otherwise Europe-USA only release (there is only 1240 bottles worldwide). For the Dead Reckoning collectors – note the foil-sealed cork on this rather than the wax seal screw-top used on the Australian-bottled releases!

Dead Reckoning South Pacific
The only rum EVER to come out of NSW powerhouse distillery Corowa!

Our Tasting Notes:

Nose: So much going on here – and every time you go back you get something new! Gingerbread a-plenty at first, but then sultanas, bananas and pawpaw – all mashed up rather than funkily over-ripe. There’s candied peel there too… and cloves… and biscuit spices… and then…

Palate: Lovely sweet and lusciously tropical. Just the merest smidge of heat at first but the succulent sweetness quickly extinguishes any fire. Huge, voluptuous and syrupy fruit notes coat the palate like render as vanilla-ey custard notes dollop on for the ride.      

Finish: The finish backs up the nose and palate admirably – there’s no disappointing ‘fizzle out’ on this back end. Thunderous barrels of chewy dried dates, liquorice, black coffee and toffee roll on and on, bumping over funky fruit notes and more of that [delicious IMHOP] ginger nut bickie spice. Flavour-wise this is a mammoth rum – so much to be lip-smacked and tooth-sucked out of this offering from Dead Reckoning. It’s truly a gentle giant though – it gives a warm yet considerate hug, it’s affable and it’s easily approachable by both rum newbie AND total-rum-geek.

Seriously – I feel a bit of cheat with these tasting notes. There are new flavours to be found pretty much every sip – let alone if you leave it and come back 10 minutes later – LET ALONE TOMORROW!!  Whilst you could mix this with a ginger beer or ginger ale quite easily – frankly, it’s just waaay to good to adulterate with anything other than some ice (it’s bloody hot this time of year, after all!).

  • PRICE : $129

  • ABV : 47%

  • BOTTLE: 700ml

  • REGION: Fiji

  • No Added Sugar / No Added Colour

Dead Reckoning South Pacific

FROM DEAD RECKONING

After sampling this rum that was purely aged in the Sth Pacific I knew I had to have it . Initially destined for release in Europe & the US, it was decided the Rum Tribe had to have a slice of the pie as well . 

I first bottled this in Amsterdam, then shipped it back to Australia. It’s time spent in a Muscat cask rounds off this once untamed rum perfectly. It still has hints of the rawness that’s always attracted me to South Pacific rum, but its 10 years in a Muscat cask had added layers of flavour profile & a subtle dipping experience. First distilled in 1994, barrel aged 10years in Fiji, then 18 additional years in a stainless steel holding tank have married the flavour chain together perfectly. 

Nosed it has a herbal quality, similar to St Lucian rum. Pine Cones, some Pot Pourri and a touch of eucalyptus. Further nosing reveals some molasses, toffee and sweet vanilla. Time in the glass gives more time for the aromas to reveal themselves. Slightly menthol notes appear alongside some light tar and cigarette smoke.

It’s a complex nose. It’s a rum which is really worth sitting with and nosing. You will get a lot out of it this way and it will also improve your sipping experience. It is both light and soft, yet quite menacing at the same time.

On the sip it is quite spicy with a fair amount of barrel influence. It’s oaky but the spice from the oak isn’t overly woody. You get a good hit of sweet vanilla. The herbal nature of the rum comes out more with each sip – the pine cones and eucalyptus that was on the nose is very evident. I’m also getting a carbolic/soapy element.

On the mid palate the rum evolves further. A sooty/tarriness comes through. I think if you experienced a Fijian rum – for the first time you could well think it was a blend. It has elements of St Lucian rum, heavy Caroni and most definitely funky Jamaican notes.

The initial sip and mid palate carry a fruitiness as well, which works nicely with the more herbal notes. It keeps the more aggressive elements of this rum at bay. It keeps the balance nicely.

ABOUT DEAD RECKONING

Justin, has immersed himself in rum for the past 20 years; a journey starting as a deck scrubbing lad with a thirst for Rum and adventure culminated in him becoming a Chief Officer; driving billionaire’s mega yachts around the world. This life of salty seadog adventure took him to Rum’s heartland, the Caribbean islands for 6 months a year, every year.

When he wasn’t at the helm of a yacht he could be found hanging off a bar or at a distillery sampling the best the Caribbean rum scene had to offer. Upon ending his days at sea there was only one thing he knew better that navigating around the world’s oceans- that was Rum. For 10 years Justin has scoured the globe discovering & importing the world’s best rums into Australia.

Dead Reckoning is Australia’s first independent rum bottler. We know there’s more in the works from Dead Reckoning and we can’t wait to try more and more of these fabulous independent bottling from a true rum legend.

ABOUT SOUTH PACIFIC DISTILLING

The South Pacific Distillery is known as the quite achiever, often producing rums under a cloak of secrecy, supplying independent bottlers with mind blowing rums. Their distillery is named ‘South Pacific Distillery’ and they use column stills and a John Dore pot still / double retort (double thumper) configuration. This still configuration is much better explained by others than myself. And HERE is a very good explanation of the ‘double thumper’.

Other very well-known rum distilleries such as St Lucia distillers, Foursquare, Hampden & Worthy Park use the same or a very similar system.

A closed fermentation process using molasses (closed so that birds don’t fall into the ferment) for 70 to 100 hours produces what can only be described as an element of funk. Dunder is not used; controlled yeast is the activator in their ferment.

High Grade Sugar cane and subsequently molasses is in no shortage on the islands of the South pacific, ideal for quality rum production.

After the ferment is run through the still the “rum” is normally stored in Ex Bourbon barrels in its high temp and humidity environment. The colour of this rum is evident that its “tropical ageing” is a rewarding and tumultuous partner, providing a full bodied and funky rum.

Dead Reckoning Mutiny – South Pacific – July 2021

After the complete sell out and rave reviews that was the first release of the Dead Reckoning Rum, we are so excited to deliver the worldwide launch of Dead Reckoning’s second release to The Tribe: Dead Reckoning Mutiny – South Pacific, and what a rum it is!

Aged for nearly 12 years (11 in ex-Bourbon barrels the South Pacific and 6 months in Cream Apera barrels in Australia) and a single cask limited release of only 400 bottles that will sell out! If you are a rum lover you will want this rum!

The second rum release for the ‘Dead Reckoning’ Rum label from The Rum Tribe rum geek and all-round expert on distilled sugar, Justin Boseley and yet another exclusive release to The Rum Tribe.

Now what we 100% know is that Dead Reckoning Mutiny – South Pacific was aged initially in ‘the Tropics’ for 11 years in an ex-Bourbon Barrel. The South Pacific is known for its tropical warm climate and high humidity which ages spirits in what is called tropical maturation. The tropical ageing is a harsh mistress, however. During that time, a whopping 62% was lost to the Angels.

Dead Reckoning Mutiny – South Pacific

It was then brought to Adelaide and transferred to a Cream Apera (Australian ‘sherry’ style fortified wine) barrel where it was finished for 6 months and here is where something very peculiar happened. After 6 months of finishing in Adelaide, the ABV actually increased by 4%, which means more water escaped the cask than alcohol did.

So in some parts of Adelaide, it seems, is one of the very few locations in Australia where the ABV in the barrel increases over time as opposed to the tropics where the ABV decreases. This is said to be caused by humidity levels – high humidly = loss or evaporation of the alcohol molecule, low humidity = the water molecule evaporation leaving more of the alcohol molecules. Or so the current and much debated (around many bottles of rum) theory goes.

The Dead Reckoning Online Tasting

In mid July we will be hosting an Dead Reckoning online tasting and cocktail session via Zoom. We will have The Rum Tribe Team, Justin Boseley and other special rum lovers chatting about the Dead Reckoning Mutiny – South Pacific. Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for dates and further information.

Dead Reckoning Mutiny – South Pacific

Our Tasting Notes:

Nose: WOW – first thing that hits is that unmistakable funk! Man that is pure banana, papaya and pineapple left to go off (just a bit) in the sun! Deliciously over-ripe fruit and some star anise there as well.

Palate: It’s a deliciously thick and rich – almost syrupy – mouthfeel. An instant hit of raisins then some spice warms the mouth. Waves of tropical fruit alternate with rich spices – very reminiscent of Arnott’s Spicy Fruit Roll biscuits.

Finish: With rolling spiced fruit, mild warmth and lolly-sweet fruit notes that you can chew on for minutes afterwards!

Man this is just sooo good. So many rolling flavours and notes creating a delightfully complex rum that really satisfies from the first sniff to the very end of that huge finish!

  • PRICE : $149


  • ABV : 52%


  • BOTTLE: 700ml


  • REGION: South Pacific

  • No Added Sugar/ No Added Colour/Non-Chill Filtered


Dead Reckoning Mutiny – South Pacific

FROM DEAD RECKONING

As soon as this bottle is opened, it’s as if you’re taken to a familiar and rewarding back street called funky town. Without the knowledge of its origins your aware you’re in the trewlawny region of Jamaica engulfed by the smells of Hampden and Worthy Park.

A hint of industrial fumes, freshly laid bitumen and engine oil can be smelt – and believe me all is in a good industrial funk kind of way. When poured into a glass it opens up to reveal fresh pastries and croissant, nannas fresh cooked apple and cinnamon pie sitting on a window seal waiting to cool.  

After a few minutes in the glass more subtle notes of stewed pear and apple can be found with traces of ginger and raisins

On the palate were back to a familiar Jamaican style of funk although its sucker punch smell has been subdued and it’s a tamer smoother and gentle experience. The sherry barrel ageing influence can now be found with raisins and sultanas and hot roaster macadamia nuts.

Nannas apple pie is on the back of the palate with a long finish of fresh cooked still warm banana cake and ginger Bread. The finish is long with oak and a hint of last night’s smoky campfire coals.

A Mutiny Cocktail? Let’s Make the Treacle @ Hains & Co

  • 60ml Dead Reckoning Mutiny
  • 7.5ml Demerara sugar syrup
  • 22.5ml apple juice
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 1dash orange bitters
  • 1 bar spoon fresh pressed ginger

ABOUT DEAD RECKONING

JUSTIN BOSELEY

Justin, has immersed himself in rum for the past 20 years; a journey starting as a deck scrubbing lad with a thirst for Rum and adventure culminated in him becoming a Chief Officer; driving billionaire’s mega yachts around the world. This life of salty seadog adventure took him to Rum’s heartland, the Caribbean islands for 6 months a year, every year.

When he wasn’t at the helm of a yacht he could be found hanging off a bar or at a distillery sampling the best the Caribbean rum scene had to offer. Upon ending his days at sea there was only one thing he knew better that navigating around the world’s oceans- that was Rum. For 10 years Justin has scoured the globe discovering & importing the world’s best rums into Australia.

Dead Reckoning is Australia’s first independent rum bottler, and this is the second expression from Justin’s brand. We know there’s more in the works from Dead Reckoning and we can’t wait to try more and more of these fabulous independent bottling from a true rum legend.

MUTINY

The mutiny on the Royal Navy vessel HMS Bounty occurred in the South Pacific Ocean on 28 April 1789. Disaffected crewmen, led by acting-Lieutenant Fletcher Christian, seized control of the ship from their captain, Lieutenant William Bligh, and set him and 18 loyalists adrift in the ship’s open launch. The mutineers variously settled on Tahiti or on Pitcairn Island. Bligh navigated more than 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) in the launch to reach safety and began the process of bringing the mutineers to justice.

Bounty had left England in 1787 on a mission to collect and transport breadfruit plants from Tahiti to the West Indies. A five-month layover in Tahiti, during which many of the men lived ashore and formed relationships with native Polynesians, led many men to be less amenable to military discipline. Relations between Bligh and his crew deteriorated after he began handing out increasingly harsh punishments, criticism and abuse, Christian being a particular target. After three weeks back at sea, Christian and others forced Bligh from the ship. Twenty-five men remained on board afterwards, including loyalists held against their will and others for whom there was no room in the launch.

The area known as the Bligh Water is the body of water (approximately 9500 km² in extent) surrounding the western Fiji islands.