Planteray Isle of Fiji

Remember your initial experience with a heavily peated scotch? What were your thoughts? How did you try to describe that sensation? Was it an unforgettable, unique adventure? Sampling this rum evokes many of those feelings from when I first acquired a Talisker 10 years ago, and believe me, it's a wonderful journey. I'm always open to a unique adventure. Exploring deeper into the rum world led me to this dram. This producer appears to function as an independent bottler and finisher, similar to a cross between a specific type of bottler and another well-known finisher. They are a French Cognac maker that obtains aged and unaged rums globally, transports them to the southwest of France for further aging in their French Oak barrels, infusing them with their signature spicy, fruity, delightful character, and then bottles and sells the rums to consumers like us. This particular one originates from the Isle of Fiji, and on this damp, humid summer evening, it provides the perfect unique adventure. Upon first nosing, you're immediately met with a fusel quality, like catching a whiff of jet fuel from the aircraft that just landed you on the island. As someone experienced with heavily peated spirits, I know to look beyond the initial funk. Doing so reveals mango, coconut, unripe bananas, vanilla, some nutmeg, ginger, and molasses. It's highly complex, offering an aroma you can savor for a considerable time. But this rum is truly meant for drinking! It starts off a bit thin, but quickly becomes thick and coats the mouth. The fruity notes from the nose carry through, joined by hints of dates, raisins, and almond on the palate. If I hadn't investigated beforehand, I might have suspected it was aged in a sherry cask. It must be the Cognac influence. The spice is pleasant without overshadowing the fruit or the funk. The finish is sweet, though somewhat brief, with the fruity, spicy notes lingering. This was certainly an enjoyable experience! If I had to draw a comparison, it most closely resembles a peated, sherry-matured Highland single malt. It possesses fruit and spice, with a satisfying mouthfeel, but a robust, funky character on the nose. Patience and careful nosing reward the attentive drinker with this spirit, and at its price point, I question why I spend so much on whiskey. Were there ever times when whisky was overlooked and incredibly affordable for an amazing bottle (not that exceptional finds aren't still available, like certain budget-friendly bourbons)? I discovered this at a larger local liquor store with aged stock. It's clearly not widely recognized, but if you appreciate fruit and spice and are open to a unique adventure, consider trying a bottle. Cheers!

Served neat in a Glencairn glass, freshly opened. As expected from this label, the presentation is appealing, though the vibrant tropical mural design feels overly casual and perhaps works against it. The netting is distinctive, even if a little gaudy now – less a practical necessity and more a potential grip aid for a bartender with slick hands. I do like that Plantation now consistently discloses the 16 g/L sugar addition. The color is a light golden orange. It has a medium-bodied, viscous feel with well-defined legs, enhanced by the added sugar. Extremely fragrant even from a distance, it might be characteristic of Fijian rum but strongly echoes the bold hogo found in Jamaican varieties. Notes of tropical fruit and esters mingle with a hint of solvent. Hints of papaya and vanilla are present, alongside some cognac grape eau de vie. The characteristic funk is present but not overwhelming, staying on the surface while allowing a surprisingly clear aroma underneath. No alcohol burn detected. Quite pleasant and distinctive. The taste is similarly refined. It evokes a smooth Agricole Vieux. The initial sweetness quickly shifts to pineapple-infused vanilla and cavendish tobacco. Cooked carrots appear, followed by a subtle spicy sensation and artificial sweetener notes that fade back into sugary cane. It's likely overly sweet, but not unpleasantly so. The closest comparison I can think of is Denizen Merchant's Reserve; this seems like a lesser version, perhaps 75-80% as good in terms of quality, complexity, intensity, and character. For the cost, that's a respectable achievement. Ultimately, the sugar level seems to cap its potential, but it might also mask imperfections. Nevertheless, it's very enjoyable, if a bit too sweet. Ideally, it would have had around 6-9 g/L of sugar, or none at all, but I can't really fault it. I'll happily finish the bottle, and the price was very good.

Nose: Diesel, a bit of hogo, mango, pineapple, apricot, orange. A solvent-like scent is present but not prominent or bothersome. Palate: Estery arrival, dunder molasses, a mix of over-ripe tropical fruit, grassy herbs, dried dates and figs, brown sugar. Slightly metallic and a little tart on the late palate. The texture is mouth-coating and satisfying, partly due to the dosage, but it's not cloying or overly sweet. As the palate develops, it leans toward dry, with a mild white pepper spice note in the background. Finish: Medium. Well-balanced but a bit muddled in the aftertaste - sweet and metallic/dry notes compete, but neither wins. A good rum that's acceptable for sipping, but preferably with lots of ice as metallic and tart notes stand out too much otherwise. It works best as a mixer, pairing excellently with fruit juices, falernum, ginger syrup, bitters, etc. So yes, primarily a cocktail rum, but I'd happily drink it neat if offered. It has a vaguely agricole-like quality, but it's subtle. It's like a mix of Jamaican and Haitian rum. Many reviewers mention banana, but I didn't really notice it strongly as an aroma or flavor. For the price, it's good value, and maybe it's the Pacific origin, but I think this would be excellent as a base for tiki drinks. Rating: Good (83/100 or 3.5 stars)

The Bottle: A more colorful and lively version of the usual Plantation style. I'm not sure why Fiji should be more colorful than Barbados, but I'll take it. It has a bit more marketing hype than their more specialized products, but that's what happens when there are fewer interesting things to say about the spirit itself. In the Glass: Light gold. On the Nose: Soft, sweet, and fruity. Nothing outstanding, but also nothing off-putting. It's a simple, approachable rum. Taste: In many ways, this reminds me of Plantation's 5-year-old offering. It doesn't have a distinct identity that makes me think it's from Fiji (similar to the 5-year and its Caribbean origins). It's smooth, sweet, and finishes nicely with a hint of banana. This would be suitable for two different uses. First, as an introduction to aged rum for someone with limited experience. Second, as a mixer for any cocktail requiring a light or aged rum. It's certainly adequate as a sipper for those with more refined palates, but honestly...there are better single pours available (especially from Plantation). They also produce a more expensive, higher-quality expression from Fiji, which I am very interested in trying after tasting this one.

COLOR: Copper still. LEGS: Thin, watery, messy streak; no distinct legs, but the glass was generally moistened. NOSE: Delicate (2/5); sugary sweet tropical fruit; coconut; juicy over-ripe mangoes, etc.; sunblock; Sharpie marker; mangrove swamp; floral perfume; slight citrus; herbal; wet leaves. WITH WATER (5 drops into 15mL): more Sharpie and tropical fruit; very sweet. Score 8/10 TASTE: Powerful; thick and mouth-coating; rich; very sweet; ripe tropical fruits; vanilla; very sharp and tart; delicious, satisfying, and craveable. WITH WATER: smoother and gentler; the flavors are less intense. Score 9.5/10 FINISH: Very long; mouth-coating; sweet; a little tannic burn; lingers pleasantly; I'll take this taste to bed. WITH WATER: sweeter and gentler; thinner; the burn disappears. Score 9/10 OVERALL: A very delicious and sweet sipping rum; excellent value for money; best without water; put this on auto-replenish. Weighted Score 9.0/10 IMAGERY: Relaxing on a Fijian beach, with local dancers, crashing waves, tropical breeze, rich aromas from the local flora.

I've owned this bottle for a bit and decided to review it now. Plantation Isle of Fiji is a delicious and rich rum that I like. The aroma is subtle yet sweet, with fruit notes reminiscent of apple or pear. The palate is velvety and packed with taste; I detect hints of vanilla and coconut, and the flavor persists. The finish is extended and smooth, with the vanilla note being the most enduring. I've only used this rum in a few cocktails, such as rum and coke. One cocktail I do make with rum is a Brunswick Sour, which contains 3 oz of rum, 1 oz of lime juice, and 1 oz of simple syrup, finished with a drizzle of sweet red wine. It makes a fantastic drink. This is a really pleasant, mellow rum with more flavor than anticipated. Cheers.