Plantation Vintage series – St Lucia 2004
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 they 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.
The Bottle
Plantation makes such characteristic 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
First, that copper color is just beautiful. The nose is heavy, oily, garnished with a full range of ripe fruit aromas (banana, apple, prune). The nose is a blend of various elements, such a pleasant surprise. Although it’s really easy to get these voluptuous aromas of ripe fruits, more complex notes start appearing afterwards. Spices like clove, nutmeg or even hints or licorice are perceptible and bring some bitterness to balance the generous ripe fruit aromas. One can smell notes of resin and dried baked fruits too (prune, apricot) probably due to the bourbon cask.
The Mouth
The rum feels thick and medium bodied on the tongue. Slightly sweet, a little peppery among other spices and empyreumatic. Very smooth and mellow on the palate. Medium/short on the finish side.
Conclusion
This rum has a unique character and aromatic profile, and thus is a success in the sense that it may please both rum connoisseurs and people who are new to the aged rum category as well. The balance is on point, it is rich, full of delicate and elegant flavors, round and not aggressive nor too harsh. Again, this product is a delightful surprise, complex and yet accessible.
Verdict
Strengths
Full and heavy nose
Lovely copper color
Well balanced
Mellowness and smoothness
Weaknesses
A bit too sweet
