Down Island Tahiti 5 Year 2020 FRS Cask Pick

Review #1487; Rum #786

This rum was bottled by American independent bottler Down Island. This rum was distilled at the T.I.E. distillery in Punaruu, Tahiti. Molasses was distilled in a column still and put into a French oak cask where it aged for 3 years at origin. It then aged for another 2 years in England before being bottled, labeled, and released in Florida for the Mai Kai in partnership with the Florida Rum Society.

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Distillery: T.I.E.

Bottler:  Down Island

Region: Tahiti

Still: Column

ABV: 68%

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Nose: Grapefruit Skin, Minerality, Pepper, Orange Slice

Palate:  Medium mouthfeel, Vanilla, Pepper, Minerality, Grapefruit Skin, Plum, Caramel, Orange Slice

Finish: Medium length finish, Vanilla, Cardamom, Pepper, Caramel, Orange Slice

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Rating: 6/10

Overall, this rum is very good. It has a nice minerality pop of fruits, some caramel and a bit of spice to round it out. Adding a bit of water brings out the grapefruit, plum, and even some orange slice a bit more. A very fun thing to try given I’ve never had anything from this distillery before.

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1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect