Fiji Rum 2001 Samaroli Single Cask #8

Samaroli is perhaps Italy's most revered independent bottler of Scotch whisky. With an impeccable taste in single cask whiskies, and an eye for aesthetics (if not English spelling at times!), he is regarded by many as a visionary. Many of his bottles now occupy deserved sports on the pantheon of whisky greats, and their rum output under the tenure of Antonio Bleve is increasingly sought after as well.

A rum from the South Pacific Distillery, produced on the island of Fiji in 2001 before being bottled from select cask #8 in Scotland in 2017. Bottle number 101 of 282.

The South Pacific distillery is located in Lautoka on the island of Fifi and began production in 1980 in order to reduce their need for imported spirits like whisky and gin. The decision to make rum in addition was logical given the country had an active sugar industry to provide it with molasses. Today it is a subsidiary of the Australian brewer, the Fosters group, who bought the Willowbank distillery in New Zealand from Seagram in 1997, moving its pot stills to South Pacific the same year. In addition, rum is also distilled on a three-column continuous still