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Plantation XO 20th Anniversary rum

Plantation XO 20th Anniversary

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Multiple | Aged | 40% ABV | Pot and Column Still Distilled

Plantation XO 20th Anniversary rum is a combination of pot-stilled and column-stilled Barbadian rums that are initially aged in the Caribbean in ex-bourbon casks for 12-20 years. They are then transported to France for a second 12-18 months aging in small French oak casks.

The first bottle of Plantation XO 20th Anniversary was created for the head of Cognac Ferrand Estate Alexandre Gabriel to honor his 20th year running the company. This special gift has resulted in the bottling we see today.

8.4/10
1817 ratings
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1817 Plantation XO 20th Anniversary Ratings

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Paul B 🇺🇸 | 471 ratings
Posted over 6 years ago

Thanks to all of my fellow reviewers at Rum Ratings for leading me to this one!

I would compare this incredible rum to some very good progressive rock whereby one hears a little something different with each listening. The flavors change on this fine rum with almost every sip. There is no alcohol burn. It reminds me of a fine cognac, which is to be expected since it underwent final aging in Cognac France. This rum is truly a work of art. Sipping it neat is fantastic. Adding an ice cube brings out even more of the flavors. At $42 per bottle where I live and being readily available, it will be easy to find more when this bottle finally runs out.

After opening it up and testing that first pour, the next thing one should do is take a knife and cut off that stupid straw net surrounding the bottle. I know that it is a major feature of fine Plantation rums, but it really uglifies this gorgeous bottle. And for anyone who attempts to use this as a mixer, call out the pirates to chop their hands off. Aargh!!!

Update: after sitting in the bottle for two months with only a few sips removed, it has lost much of it's original flavor. This is not supposed to happen, so I dock it one point.

Update Dec 14, 2018: I finally bought my second bottle after 11 months, specifically to test it side by side against my first and last bottle of Ron Zacapa XO. Both are very fine rums with complex flavors, but this rum is dominated by fruit flavors from the cognac barrel aging and the Zacapa XO is dominated by the multiple agings in wood barrels. I honestly could not tell which rum cost the most, and this rum is slightly less than half the price of the Zacapa XO. It was also good to see that the price is still $42 almost a year later. It is now my responsibility to consume this new bottle in less than two months now that I know it's shortcomings due to added sugar and oxidation.

Update June 19, 2022: After a very long time, I finally bought another bottle of this rum and only because it came with two exclusive glasses in a gift box at the same price. Well, those glasses are basically cordial glasses on long stems. How appropriate and so fitting!!!! As for the rum, it now has a more peppery taste akin to tequila. Plantation continues to give rums from Barbados a bad name. And after much consideration, I am left with no choice except to lower my initial rating from an 8 to a 5 on this liqueur that pretends to be a rum.

RedBlaze6 🇺🇸 | 26 ratings
Posted 8 years ago

Golden brown goodness in a sexy bottle! Out of the numerous rums I've been able to sample, Plantation XO is holding strong as one of my favorites. Sweet and clean with a touch of coconut flavor. That subtle taste is comparable to coconut water. Drinking it neat is the way to go. The afterburn lingers a touch but is pleasant. After drinking PXO, you can see how complexity in flavor makes certain rums shine when compared to others. A bottle will set you back around $40 USD (01/2016). If you only have $35 to your name, borrow $5 from somebody and go get some.

Olli 🇩🇪 | 7 ratings
Posted over 7 years ago

It is so easy to write about a product with exceptional value.
It is smooth, it has character and it is an explosion of themes. Most prominent vanilla, leather, caramel, coconut and cocoa. It stays and seems to change the theme every once in a while. It is just mesmerizing ....
To make a perfect product even better - ther is the bottle. It is extremely heavy, has a nice straw-binding and a beautiful wooden cap. Just by looking at the bottle you see the difference between high quality and the results even more expensive products can not reach.

So all in all THE perfect combination of taste, quality, and price.

There might be products out there with triple digits price tags, which might match or even surpass the taste of this splendid rum. But I don´t think there is anything out there that can touch this price-quality ratio.

Dave 🇺🇸 | 36 ratings
Posted 9 years ago

Bought this on recommendation of Mario from the United States who is a member on here.

Very smooth sipper with no throat burn. Very long lasting after taste.

Gave it a 9 only cause it's just not as great as El Dorado 21 or Diplomatico 2000 Single Vintage.

Søren Ladegaard 🇩🇰 | 8 ratings
Posted almost 10 years ago

A first sniff gives away some vanilla and cask aromas.
Very ballanced and pleasent nose.
Actually this is one of the least sweet in my cabinet, but it does have some sweetness.
The taste buds is meet with the initial sweetness followed with some vanilla and a bit of cask notes.
The warmth hits relatively hard but not unpleasant.
This is a well ballanced rum that you should try yourself.
BTW. I had to use a wine glass because im on Tenerife and it was the closest to a proper glas I could get :-)

Beukeboom 🇺🇸 | 304 ratings
Posted over 8 years ago

I just got the hat trick for today. I purchased three different bottles of rum and all three drew 9's in my book. One of which I declared to be, at that time, to be my first and only sipping rum (Vizcaya VXOP). I mentioned I reserved the right to change my mind and add to the list. Well, this one is my SECOND sipping rum. As with the Vizcaya VXOP it would be a crime to use this in Coke Zero (which is my custom) or in mixed drinks. Almost everything about this rum is absolute awesomeness (apologies to Po, the Dragon Warrior). The aroma is quite delightful. Definitely an oak odor. Nice! The flavor is equally as good. Not overly sweet but a nice balance. I seemed to detect some orange and vanilla and some caramel to it. Good strong but not overpowering burn which fades quickly. The bottle oozes coolness, too. Nice simulated gold leaf lettering and design with a label on the bottom third of the bottle reminding me of engravings on old stocks and bonds. The bottle cap appears to be wood with an embossed metal disc embedded in the top. With all that said, why a cheap imitation cork? They couldn't have used a good quality real cork? Okay...a minor, minor quibble.

Again, this is another rum that is so close to a perfect 10. Definitely one to have in your cabinet.

Steven James 🇬🇧 | 33 ratings
Posted over 10 years ago

Not an accurate representation of Bajan Rum. Sugared nonsense

LarsF 🇸🇪 | 39 ratings
Posted over 8 years ago

Rum Plantation 20th Anniversary Extra Old comes in a very nice bottle. The rum is delivered in a simple carton (picture).

In the glass you first smell some sticky alcohol but after a while you sense vanilla and caramel. This rum needs to rest in the glass for a few minutes.

In the mouth you get a sweet taste of caramel, vanilla and spices. A little hint of cask is there too.

The aftertaste is long with som sweetness and spices. This is a nice sipper to a decent price.

Sakulnikov 🇨🇿 | 17 ratings
Posted over 10 years ago

Bottle: I like its shape and with the engraving it is just beautiful 1/1
Colour: Dark amber
Aroma: Very rich. A lot of vanilla and chocolate with coconut and little bit fruity. 2/2
Taste: It is not very sweet, just like dark chocolate should be. Chocolate flavour is the most distinguishable there, with some nuts and hints of oak . If I take into account aroma, taste and aftertaste it is really complex rum and just plain perfection. 5/5
Aftertaste: Smooth, sweet and little bit woody. There is not anything bad in it. 2/2
Generally it is the best of the best for me, I have not ever tasted something bettter and I always have bottle of this one in my cabinet, or rather two.

Ju 🇫🇷 | 2 ratings
Posted over 7 years ago

This is my favourite rum so far.
Not too strong on the nose, really smooth to sip. Sweet but not too much, really well balanced.
A vanilla aroma, a bit of coco, the fruit. I love it.
And mainly, this is not an extra-expensive rum. For me the best value for money I've seen until now.

Christopher Church 🇨🇦 | 4 ratings
Posted over 7 years ago

I tried this rum the other day and was blown away. When I first took a sip it was like silk in your mouth. Very smooth. This rum isn't as sweet as Ron zacapa 23 solero but sweeter than Flor de Caña 18. This is my new favourite rum as I continue my quest for the perfect rum at a decent price. This rum is beautiful, buy some you won't be disappointed.




Brand Details

Type: Aged
Company: Plantation
Country: Multiple
Name: XO 20th Anniversary
ABV: 40%
Raw Material: Unknown
Process: Pure blend (1 distillery)
Distillation: Pot and Column Still
Women Led: No

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