Tastes

The Bottle: Fairly non-descript, though it looks like it came off of a shelf from 1973. It isn't bad, it just isn't a looker. In the Glass: Just a few degrees into bronze territory from what looks like dark orange if you hold it up to the light. On the Nose: Due to the 54% ABV, you need to add a few drops of water to get near this one. Once it's been tamed a bit, it opens up with some distinct molasses sweetness. There's a heavy, winter, British dessert to this (almost like you need a spoon to get through it) that's then wrapped up in something savory. Distinct black pepper notes to this that play nicely with the sweetness. This sits somewhere in the middle of the field in terms of complexity. Engaging, but not demanding. Taste: This arrives with that molasses sweetness, which then develops a citrus edge and finishes peppery and bitter. It's a fairly quick process from start-to-finish, and it doesn't seem to change much even if you let the glass sit. The savory-bitter note on the end suggests that it would be better in a mixed drink than as a stand-alone sipper(which, to be fair, it isn't billing itself as). I'm not sure that I've ever come across a rum that finishes like this one. I think that the savory-pepper aspect to it could play nicely in a Tiki drink, given that this is an over-proofed spirit; but you'd have to be sure that you get the balance correct. If you're looking for a solid sipper, you should look elsewhere. As a mixer, it would be hard to recommend this one against the likes of the Plantation O.F.T.D or Smith & Cross; but I could certainly see a case for it in the right cocktail.

The Bottle: Very singular as far as rums go. Squat, thick-bottomed bottle with a very elegant label. There's a lot of good, succinct information about the rum itself and tells you pretty much everything that you need to know. It's quite the looker. In the Glass: Light straw. On the Nose: Sweet & sour, banana, wood spice and some alcohol nip. You can definitely tell that this is a Jamaican rum, with that banana/ester thing going on; but this doesn't smell like a kiddie cocktail or a bottle of pumpkin spice mix. It's got a very "clean" smell to it, for lack of a better expression. Taste: Semi-sweet arrival, sweet development and a dry finish. As the flavor develops, the heavy banana and spice notes come forward in a very pleasant way. Imagine the way a spice shop keepers leather apron would smell...it tastes like that. The drying aspect to this on the finish isn't really bitter at all, it just has a distinct lack of sweetness that you might otherwise expect from a sipping rum. Honestly, this stuff comes across very much like a whisky would. There's a clean, understated complexity to this that keeps you coming back for more. Definitely a good bell-weather for whether or not you like Jamaican rum as opposed to from somewhere else. The "untouched" aspect of Mezan really comes through in this offering. This would be great in something like a Mojito, but it's just as suitable to a Glencairn nosing glass. Generally found for under $30, which makes it one of the better buys out there in the "golden" rum category. Recommended for whisky drinkers who want to venture out!

The Bottle: The Plantation bottle styling that we've all come to know and love. There's really no mistaking their line of rums from any others. In the Glass: Burnt Sienna. On the Nose: This is where I have to call out the proof that this rum carries...69% ABV. I don't recommend nosing, or drinking, this stuff without adding some water. Should you do so (as I did, because...well, because) the smell is basically just a mix of burnt sugar and alcohol burn. There's nothing complex or really inviting about it. So, from here-on-out in this review, water shall be added. After it's opened a bit, we get into some of the depth that this rum has to offer. There are strong notes of brown sugar, some Jamaican-style ester banana notes and orange. Good all-around dark rum qualities to this. Taste: You have to get the balance with water right here in order to make this a sipper. There are no surprises here that the nose doesn't reveal; brown sugar and tropical fruits. The flavor here is mostly in the finish, quite honestly. The arrival and development are rather muted, but then you get the full flavor punch on the tongue that lasts for minutes. While not what I would reach for as a sipper, strictly-speaking, I can see how it would be phenomenal in a drink that calls for an overproofed rum. There's depth of flavor here that other higher proof rums simply can't touch. You get the sense that the rum in here is not aged for terribly long, but at $30 USD per liter, you can't really complain. Another good offering from the Plantation team, especially if you primarily consume rum in cocktails.

The Bottle: Fairly standard Plantation fare here, clear glass bottle with an old-timey label. The front clearly tells you where it's from and how old it is, the back has a wealth of knowledge about other aspects of the content's provenance. The one thing that I wasn't overly enthusiastic with was the faux-straw "binding" that came around it. I understand that it makes it look like a mobile tiki hut, but still. In the Glass: 24 karat gold. On the Nose: Butterscotch, brown sugar, bananas and baking spices. B, b, b, b.....Barbados...hey..... This is a very well-integrated, sweet and appealing nose. This is honestly what you hope that a good golden rum smells like. Taste: The arrival is quite sweet, carrying the brown sugar and baking spices with it. The development is all banana and butterscotch with the cinnamon and allspice notes running through it. The finish is very fruity and comes full-circle back to the brown sugar on the nose. The alcohol nip isn't terribly pronounced, and it leaves just the faintest touch of bitter on the tongue. I don't get as much vanilla influence as I would expect with 5 years in a bourbon cask, but I'm also not entire sure about the fill status on those. I doubt that they are first-fill, but second? Third? Hard to say. I do think that a lot of the flavor on the development comes from the Pierre Ferrand cognac casks that are used to finish the rum. I'm not sure how long the rum stays in there, probably only a few months, but those casks certainly leave their mark. The tasting notes that come on the bottle differ from mine in a lot of ways, but that's how tasting notes are. Plantation isn't telling me how my palate "ought" to taste it, but rather what this specific reviewer came away with. This is another winner from Plantation as far as I am concerned. Tasty, approachable, affordable, sippable. You could absolutely use this in a mixed drink that calls for a golden rum, but it fares just as nicely as a neat sipper too. I'm not sure how much (if any) additional sugar is added to the mix; but the dram appears none the worse for it if there is. Like the Stiggin's Pineapple, this could very well find itself as a fixture in my bar.

The Bottle: Fairly restrained, as far as most rums go. It has some "hand-written" elements on the label that give it an upscale feel, but you could be forgiven for overlooking it on the shelf. In the Glass: Typical "Golden" Rum color. On the Nose: At 47.3% ABV and a fairly young age compared to its older brother, this one could use a few drops of water before you get into it. There are some nice brown sugar notes as well as candied citrus(I'm going with tangerine). It actually reminds me a fair bit of the Pyrat XO for Guyana. Taste: This one has a lot of "tropical fruit basket" going on for it, rather than "holiday baking" like the 23. This isn't an insult, it's just different. It's still very brown-sugar forward, as is typical of this distillery; clean and well-made. There is a fair amount of astringency on the tongue, just like there was on the nose, but it does have a nice, clean finish. Well worth the money that is charged for it, but I would be hesitant to recommend it as a sipping rum. If you're looking for a great golden rum for mixing, this is your winner right here. And quite honestly, sometimes that's all you're really looking for.