Nine Leaves Rum 2020 / 5 Year Old / Ex-PX Single Cask arrives with the kind of quiet confidence that comes from knowing exactly what it is. Crafted by the now-closed Nine Leaves Distillery in Japan’s Shiga Prefecture. This expression was aged for five years in Pedro Ximénez Sherry barrels, a lush, full-bodied rum delivering h. At £145.00, it sits in a competitive bracket, but does it justify its place on the shelf?
From Nine Leaves Distillery, bottled at 60% ABV, this expression sits in premium territory where expectations are high and competition fierce. Nine Leaves has crafted something worth paying attention to here.
Tasting Notes
On the nose, Nine Leaves Rum 2020 / 5 Year Old / Ex-PX Single Cask presents Christmas cake, beeswax, vintage port, walnut oil, aged sherry, tobacco pouch. It is an inviting and well-composed aromatic profile that draws you into the glass with each return.
The palate delivers antique wood, Christmas pudding, elegant tannin structure, complex spice layering, polished leather. The mouthfeel is full-bodied and powerfully concentrated, with each sip revealing new layers of complexity. There is an elegance here that justifies the price point — every element feels considered and deliberately placed.
The finish is complex and evolving, dried fruit and nut close. It is a finish that rewards patience and invites contemplation — the hallmark of a truly accomplished spirit.
How to Serve
This is a rum that demands to be savoured neat, perhaps with a single drop of water to coax out the more elusive notes hiding behind the oak. Any mixer would be a disservice to the years of maturation and craft that have gone into this bottle. Pour it into a Glencairn or a brandy balloon, take your time, and appreciate every nuance as it evolves in the glass.
The Verdict
Nine Leaves Rum 2020 / 5 Year Old / Ex-PX Single Cask earns a well-deserved 8 out of 9 on our scale, reflecting an exceptional spirit that stands out in even the most competitive company. At £145.00, it represents a serious investment, but one that delivers commensurate quality, complexity, and memorability. A worthy representative of Japan's rum-making tradition, and a bottle we would happily recommend.
