Dead Reckoning Rum Killik Australia (High Ester Funky Rum) 2023
The label promises high ester and funk, but what actually shows up is strawberries and cream, vanilla cake icing and buttered-popcorn candy. Several tasters were surprised by how tame and creamy this unaged Australian pot-still white is — "funky bubblegum and strawberry shortcake," as one put it. The esters are there but light; the alcohol hides well for 55%.
The community says- Strawberry and cream
- Well-hidden alcohol
- But: Less funk than labeled
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The look inside the bottle
How does Dead Reckoning Rum Killik Australia (High Ester Funky Rum) 2023 taste?
Aggregated from 28 community reviews.
Creamy strawberry-vanilla white, lighter funk than promised Most find it a fun, creamy strawberry-and-vanilla white that's more candy than hogo. A few wanted the promised funk to hit harder, but it makes a great daiquiri.
People who like creamy, candy-sweet unaged whites and daiquiri rums
Anyone chasing a real Jamaican-style ester bomb
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
13 of 28 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
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How is Dead Reckoning Rum Killik Australia (High Ester Funky Rum) 2023 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 7.8 sits in the “Good” band. 85% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 3% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Community voices
What does the community say?
61% rate it between 6 and 8. 10 selected write-ups from 28 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Adam B
Most helpful positive review
Extremely cool distillate. Noses like cheap vanilla cake icing, and the body follows through. Really bizarre stuff in a good way.
Review by Timo Groeger
Most helpful mixed review
Kneipe The Rumah Rotterdam April 2026. Eine Überraschung, dieser Rum weiß echt zu gefallen. High Ester ist erkennbar, aber auch leicht fruchtig dank der vorhandenen Erdbeere. Ansonsten auch sehr cremig und sanft. Lecker.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
#5641 07.09.2025 Enjoying a few unaged rums while cleaning after yesterday's tasting event. Nose Roasted, citrus, vanilla, olive, light caramel, fruity, ester. Palate Oily, light smoke, citrus, light burnt, vanilla, fruity, light caramel, olive, faint salt. Finish Medium to long, oily, faint smoke, lemon, light salt, olive, vegetal. Empty glass Vanilla, olive, light smoke, fruits.
Review by Alex1981
Round mixer, surprisingly tame with creamy grassiness ala Agricole, sweet strawberry bubblegum and light esters. Great integrated alcohol that is barely noticeable. However, there is little sign of the "high ester, funky rum" according to the label. Still makes a great daiquiri!
Review by Ian Gilman
Wow. How strange. I love nothing more than something both surprising and delicious and this certainly checks both boxes. It’s like sipping a funky bubblegum and strawberry shortcake with a wonderful buttery aroma.
Review by Scottyg
Initial taste of meringue,cake mixture followed shortly after by a floral hit and grass. With the funk lingering for a short time. Second taste more of a alcohol taste with not much flavour slight nail varnish taste.
Review by Martin Ekrt
Peck. A light version of HERR was found
Review by Richard Colwell
Super interesting! The nose has a pronounced sweetness, with notes similar to buttered popcorn jelly beans (I imagine this to be pretty polarizing). For me, the profile really works. The palate delivers similar notes, with a balance between candy sweetness and subtle umami, buttery, creamy notes. The finish is quite similar, evolving into deeper butterscotch notes. The profile is generally surprising and fun, while being relatively straightforward.
Review by Henry Davies
Good funky unaged white. The nose is subtle, not some funky beast. Mouth is creamy and smooth, strawberry and cream with some fruity elements. The finish is short, some esters but light weight again, more vanilla and strawberry but short. Was hoping for more but it sips well for an unaged white, look forward to trying more from the distillery and taking it for a ride in a daiquiri
Review by martin slezák
Colour clear Aroma fruit, plum, tutti fruity vanilla, esters, cream Taste esters, intense tutti fruity, creaminess, smooth Finish medium-long esters and creaminess
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Market value
Avg. community purchase price 44 €
What members paid for this bottle, self-reported. Not a market value — the purchases are over three years old at the median and unverified.
Details about Dead Reckoning Rum Killik Australia (High Ester Funky Rum) 2023
A White Rum from Australia, bottled by Dead Reckoning Rum, at 55%.
Community purchases
14 bottles logged by 11 collectors.
A drinker's rum.
42% opened, 1 emptied and repurchased.
14 purchased · 29 tasted · 4 wishlist · as of
About the Killik distillery
The Killik distillery is located in Australia. Rums from Killik have been reviewed 200 times with an average of 8.0/10.
To Killik →Read on in the RumX Guide
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