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Multiple | Aged | 40% ABV | Pot and Column Still
Plantation Barbados 5-Year rum is distilled from molasses and aged 5 years in bourbon casks before being transported to France for further 'finishing' in Cognac casks.
Plantation rum is owned by the French company Cognac Ferrand, which was founded in 1989 and produces wine, gin, and other spirits to sell in over 40 countries. The Plantation range includes 7 vintages from different Caribbean countries and 3 blends of multiple regions.
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This rum surprised me! Given that Mt. Gay Eclipse had long been my go-to mixing rum, I was expecting something similar. Now I understand both producers better, and these two rums embody their differences pretty well.
This particular Bajan rum is creamy and unbelievably smooth, with a strong aroma of banana accompanied by vanilla, butterscotch, and caramel. In short, it's delicious.
I have one major complaint: the sweetness. I think a big part of why this bottle is so tasty (apart from the fine raw materials and thoughtful aging) is the high sugar content; it's a bit like rum candy. For those of you who like it sweet, you've hit the jackpot! For those like me who prefer a more balanced spirit, it's a bit much. The vanilla-crème-brulee tends to dominate and can be cloying. At this price-point, however, it's hard to complain—it's more something to keep in mind when mixing and imbibing, so you craft a balanced drink and not let the sweetness trick you into forgetting the kick. And there are benefits, as well: the sugar (along with its flavor profile) makes it ideal for adding to treats like milkshakes, desserts, or coffee, and helps make it more than passable neat. Indeed, as a dessert rum I see no better value today. (For a budget sipper, RL Seale's Finest takes the top spot.)
Originally I gave this an 8 because it really is a spectacular value. But eventually I decided that all this sugar hurts more than it helps (after all, you can always add your own sweetener—but you can't take away what's already there); cutting it by a third or a half could do wonders (one would hope)... or it could reveal shortcomings with the raw material. I'd love to see it compete more with the likes of Doorly's, rather than Zaya. (And this critique applies for many of Plantation's fine offerings.)
In sum, this makes for an excellent all-around mixer, is good with desserts, and also holds up to sipping. Its sweetness and strong flavor have garnered it many fans, but I could only take so much. I highly recommended it to beginners, and wouldn't bat an eye at being served this in a drink.
7-