Dead Reckoning Mhoba Pure Single French Oak Cask Strength South African Rum (700ml)

Adelaide-based independent bottler, Justin Boseley, continues his project of importing unusual and hard-to-find rums with this South African addition from Mhoba. At 29 months old, this is a fairly young rum by Dead Reckoning standards. Its first two years were spent in a South African red wine cask from the Vrede em Lust estate in the Franschhoek valley, and it was initially expected to be around eighteen months to two years in a finishing cask, but Justin was surprised at how active his barrel was - so active, in fact, that he elected to bottle it after just five months finishing.

Justin describes finding this selection in Mhoba’s bond-store as an ‘A-HA!’ moment. "Upon tasting Mhoba rum for the first time this was a revelation and also a rewriting of the rum flavour profile rule book." He adds, "It reminded me of the first time I tried a Jamaican Hampden. I hand selected this individual single barrel release... It’s time in the red wine cask has given it layers of flavour, including crisp red apples and cranberry juice. A heavy level char bourbon cask used for the finishing in Adelaide has added the perfect amount of vanilla, custard and caramel." Bottled in December 2022 without filtration at 56% and with nothing added, 377 bottles are on offer.