Review by: The Auditor

Dead Reckoning is an independent rum bottler based out of Australia. Named after ships of history here they bottled 2 different rums from South Pacific Distillers that were entirely tropically aged.

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Dead Reckoning South Pacific 21 Year (2001)

Distillery: South Pacific Distillery

Bottler: Dead Deckoning

Region: Fiji

Still: Pot

ABV: 65%. Cask strength.

Age: 21 years. Distilled in 2001. Bottled in 2022.

Cask type: Ex-Bourbon, 21 years in Fiji

Color: Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

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Nose: Black Pepper, Dark Chocolate, Tobacco Leaf, Leather, Raspberry, Star Anise

Palate: Medium oily mouthfeel, Star Anise, Black Pepper, Oak Spice, Tobacco Leaf, ginger

Finish: Medium length finish, Star Anise, Black Pepper, Oak Spice, Tobacco Leaf

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Conclusion: The oak structure here is quite heavy as well, but it leans in well with the other flavors. Big cough syrup, spices, dark chocolate, ginger. Overall, a great cask from Dead Reckoning.

Final Score: 88

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Dead Reckoning South Pacific 20 Year (2001)

Distillery: South Pacific Distillery

Bottler: Dead Reckoning

Region: Fiji

Still: Pot

ABV: 68%. Cask strength.

Age: 20 years. Distilled in 2004. Bottled in 2021.

Cask type: Ex-Bourbon, 20 years in Fiji

Color: Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

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Nose: Toffee, Raspberry Jam, Leather, Allspice, Tannins, Cough Syrup, Peppermint

Palate: Medium mouthfeel, Cough Syrup, Peppermint, Tannins, Allspice, Raspberry

Finish: Medium length finish, Oak Spice, Tannins, Peppermint, Cough Syrup

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Conclusion: 

Overall very good, but the oak here is too heavy for me personally. It drowns the other flavors and characteristics out.

This was a fun exercise for sure. South Pacific Distillers makes quality rum for sure and these 2 expressions show it. I feel they are a bit over-oaked (the 20 year more so than the 21 year somehow) but these are still very fun expressions given the full tropical ageing. For a first brush with Dead Reckoning this was fun.

Final Score: 88

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.