Objective Notes

Very Smooth (on the RnD scale of Harsh-Smooth-Very Smooth-Extremely Smooth).

Bounty Overproof Rum is reddish mahogany and copper in color. I suspect color is added based on the amount of time aged in used bourbon and whiskey barrels.  On the nose you are met quickly with the alcohol and aromatics you’d expect to find in an overproof pot still rum. But it’s pleasantly tame. Other subtle aromas discovered are of oak or char, toffee/vanilla, and leather. Initial taste has a spicy and burnt sugar flavor along with a little heat as expected. A full body rum that warms the mouth while revealing hints of oak, bitter dark chocolate,  and pepper. The finish is spicy with that burnt sugar notes and bitter dark chocolate which quickly warms and is gone. Bounty Overproof Rum is enjoyable neat which isn’t the case with many overproof rums.

Anecdotal Notes

Roger - Bounty Overproof Fiji Rum is owned by the Foster’s Group and produced on Fiji. South Pacific Distilleries on Fiji starts with Fijian molasses obtained from the Fiji Sugar Corporation LTD. Both pot and continuous column stills are said to both be used in the production. The pot still is used to give those extra esters and other aromatic compounds not as easily obtained in from a column.  The rum is aged in used bourbon and whiskey oak barrels to soften it and add flavor and character. Before bottling at 116 proof color is very likely added.

Note of clarification: Bounty Overproof Rum (58%ABV) is distilled by the South Pacific Distilleries on Fiji.  It is not the same product as Bounty Rum (40% ABV), which is distilled by St. Lucia Distillers on St. Lucia in the Caribbean. The two Bounty’s are completely different rums; hemispheres apart you could say.

Dave –  South Pacific Distilleries is one of Fiji’s largest facilities, and produces several other notable aged overproof Fiji rums (3, 5, and 10 years old) as well as the popular Seven Tiki spiced rum.

Taster’s Opinion

Roger –  I first tried Bounty Overproof Rum at Ed Hamilton’s  Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition 2011 in San Francisco in September at Martin Cate’s Smuggler’s Cove. It was a nice surprise and garnered a gold medal in the competition in the  overproof category. Bounty is an aged overproof rum that is really meant to be enjoyed in cocktails but is smooth enough to be sipped neat or on the rocks. It’s a good overproof rum but not widely available so if you happen to be on holiday on Fiji pick up a couple of bottles to bring home. It is available for purchase online if you can’t make the journey to the South Pacific.

Dave – Bounty is a big chewy old British Navy style rum, and those of us who enjoy those heavy, overproof spirits will appreciate its boldness.  Others would be well advised to use Bounty sparingly, for waking up mixed drinks where a full flavored overproof rum is needed to add an edge or depth.  RnD first sampled Bounty while judging at the Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition 2011 hosted at Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco, where it earned a well-deserved Gold Medal award in the Overproof Rum category at this important event.

Taster's Rating (10 is best):  Roger - 9  Flasks; Dave - 9 Flasks.

 

Most recently tasted by:  Roger and Dave, September 2011 at Smuggler's Cove in San Francisco at The 2011 Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition, and again in November 2011 at RnD’s North and South Tasting Rooms, USA.

*750ml unless otherwise specified.