Plantation Single Cask 2021 Barbados 10YO

First take at a review of this special bottle of rum. It’s rested a while and is approaching halfway gone, should be open and interesting. Nose hits first with some subdued sweetness, but then I get a buttery note that reminds me of the butter on top of a stack of fresh hot pancakes with syrup - but it’s the butter really coming through, syrupy sweetness distantly behind it. Continues into some candied nuts, probably the sherry coming out. Interesting and enjoyable nose, not particularly strongly “rummy” notes, just a bit of ethanol. First sip is an unusual combination of sweetness and… foreign, unusual flavors. Thick and strangely sweet, almost like old cough medicine, maybe past its best by date? Palate needs adjusting. Second sip starts with caramel sweetness and ebbs to more of the sweet syrupy herbal flavors, almost like I’m drinking sweet vermouth neat. The heavy sherry influence probably at play here. Third and subsequent sips yield more of the same, but the strange notes at first grow familiar, so the progression is caramel to subtle medicinal sweetness to drying herbal notes a la vermouth. The finish actually dries out somewhat, first a bit of sweet heat and then black pepper, finally fading somewhat to a bit of nutmeg and depth… tobacco smoke maybe? Yes… the more I sip, the smokier the finish gets. Interesting. Medium long finish, enjoyable for adding a dimension and drawing me back in for more. The sweetness is not building on my palate like some lament happens with plantation products, especially those with a high dosage. However, this bottle is probably what some might call a “sherry bomb” - the influence from the sherry cask is fairly heavy. The sweet vermouth notion keeps coming back the more I sip, as does the smoke. The first crack of this bottle was enjoyed with a fine cigar and even finer company. The pairing was fortuitous but turned out to be quite good. The unique sweetness and smoky finish perhaps align rather well to a cigar pairing. Overall, the heavy sherry influence leads to a unique and distinctive rum, but one that doesn’t carry many typical rum notes. I personally enjoy rum for being rum, and so while I can appreciate this brings something different, it leaves me wondering what qualities the 10 year rum might’ve had to bring to the bottle at all. I guess I could do with a little less sherry. Oh, well. 3.75/5

So excited to receive this bottle today. Popped it open right after work. Bottle not rested and a neck pour. Initial impression: Heavy and rich sherry with caramel, nuts, cocoa, coffee, tropical fruits, thick barrel and baking spices and a touch of heat. Very nice! 12-29-23 bottle kill. Notes stay the same, but it seems a little better than the initial tasting. Bumped 1/4 point.