Plantation Vintage series - Fiji 2009
Rum ID Card
In depth review
Context
The French brand Plantation (now Planteray) was originally an independent bottling company, but can now make rum since the acquisition of West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados and since then also became a shareholder of National Rum of Jamaica, owner of Clarendon Distillery and Long Pond Distillery. So technically, Plantation can make rum from Barbados and Jamaica while it also continues buying aged rum from different distilleries in the Caribbean and beyond. One of Plantation's signature moves is to add some continental aging in Cognac, France to the rum they put out. Now back to Fijan rums, it is not the first place you would think about when thinking about aged rums. However Fiji has been making rum for over 150 years. Despite several distilleries that have existed in the past, the only one currently active today is The Distillery Co of Fiji/South Pacific Distillery. During the last decade we have seen a resurgence of Fijan rum which are made from molasses and mostly pot still rums.
The Bottle
Plantation makes such recognisable bottles: long, thin, elegant with the logo and brand embossed in the glass. Add to that a lovely dry herbal net and you have a unique design. They are really easy to differentiate from the rest. The boxes of the vintage series are also very classy and sober displaying gold and brown shades that match perfectly. The sticker looks like an old vintage stamp with an exhaustive level of information, which is always enjoyable when looking for a specific detail.
Into the glass
The color appears to be quite clear, between gold and old gold. Although we can recognize some esters right away, the aromatic profile is still thin and a bit sharp. I mean that the main notes are on the solvent side rather than a thick range of ripe fruits. But still, there is a bit of mellowness among these aromas, mostly ripped pineapple and some citrusy notes with a slight oiliness in the background. Woodnotes are present too. The profile is vivid, lovely and inviting.
The Mouth
On the palate, the rum appears light to medium-bodied, but strong, sharp and dry. Although it was aged in bourbon casks for 9 years, you don’t feel these bourbon notes too much, but you rather detect this characteristic bitterness of young oak. Then, dried fruits and spices come on the background (vanilla, ginger) and linger a little.
Conclusion
Made from molasses, distilled through both pot and column stills, and mostly aged in bourbon casks, this rum provides a surprising result. One would expect a thick and oily rum texture with a rich and generous aromatic profile. But instead, it is quite the opposite since this rum is light, dry, woody, with an elegant, sophisticated and narrow aromatic profile range. All these features create a certain complexity in this rum, however a bit more balance and smoothness would make this rum even greater.
Verdict
Strengths
Garnished noze
Well balanced
Rich aromas
Complex
Weaknesses
Too short on the palet
Sharp/intense
