Planteray Original Dark Rum

Nose: Funky hogo, molasses, brittle toffee, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, a crisp minty note, prune juice, strong black tea, leather books. [The aroma from the empty glass is herbal, funky molasses]. Palate: Oily/syrupy in texture, but the initial flavors are dry and bittersweet (you can detect the cask used for secondary maturation). A lot of sugar sweetness immediately becomes apparent in the development along with pineapple and mango, black coffee and dark chocolate. There’s an anise presence as well. It's warm and slightly spicy, but certainly not hot – you barely notice any alcohol until the aftertaste. The sugar sweetness builds over time to the point where it becomes intrusive. Finish: Medium/long. A pleasant combination of dry, spicy and rancio, but with an unwelcome white sugar aftertaste. There was an earlier Original Dark Rum by Plantation that was discontinued in 2015 and replaced by this "Double Aged" version. I’ve made a new listing here for the Double Aged because the mix of reviews for the two versions in the old listing is confusing. This is a very different rum to the earlier one. The earlier version was more fruity and contained rum from Trinidad & Tobago. You'll still see that recipe stated on most liquor website listings for this new version, but it's incorrect. This new one is a dryer, funky combination of young Bajan pot still and column still rum blended together with 10-15 year old Jamaican pot still rum. The two are married in a tun for 3-6 months in France which imparts a subtle cognac oak overtone. There is a great deal of white sugar sweetness across the palate of this rum, which spoils what would otherwise be an excellent bottling. It's unmistakable and obvious if you taste it in comparison to something like Doorly's 12 or any other Foursquare rum. Plantation employs dosage and this signature added sweetness appears in almost all of their rums, to a greater or less extent - here it is particularly noticeable. There is also a funky hogo note to both the nose and palate, and if you’re not into that you will probably hate it, so maybe try a dram before buying a bottle. It's sippable, but is primarily intended as a mixer. It makes a particularly nice Cuba Libre as the hogo note shows through the cola and lends it character, and it also goes well with dry ginger. “Above Average”: 80/100 (3 stars)

An impressive range of flavors from this affordable rum. As noted by others; this is the updated version. The packaging has been changed to highlight the 'double aging' process, though I believe this was also part of the original, albeit with different source rum and different bourbon/cognac casks. The aroma is primarily pineapple, with banana and bitters present beneath. Further exploration reveals an agave-like quality to the fruitiness. Upon tasting, that subtle tequila note vanishes - we are certainly in the Caribbean! Although the flavors initially seem to conflict, at its core this is a sweet rum with woodspice and other elements to keep the more discerning drinker engaged. Initial unburnt sugar and banana sweetness gives way to a very pleasant nutmeg and honey combination, with very faint ash and mint notes. The finish is of medium duration, with a slight alcohol burn that could be reduced with a drop or two of water. This is where the anise flavor noted by other reviewers was most apparent to me. Do yourself a favor: exhale a long breath after swallowing this rum, and it will surprise you with a previously unnoticed caramel with spice all over again. Excellent value with plenty to discuss for the price! Do not hesitate.

Nose: Sweet, light brown sugar with sweeter tropical, almost kiwi-like banana, and some strong alcohol overtones right away. Underneath that, some pineapple skin and green crown plus fresh grilled pineapple, sweet bourbon and charred oak, and the faintest hint of sweet brandy or sherry barrel. Some licorice and cardamom comes and goes. Not very volatile, and the strong alcohol grows after it sits in the glass a while and a drop of vanilla and coconut shows up. Palate: More light brown sugar and molasses, and a lot more bourbon barrel character with charred oak and good, black tea-like tannins. Fairly sweet, which builds up when I don't take a long time between sips like I usually do, but not too cloying. The weakest part of the experience, but not bad. Finish: Medium-long and slightly volatile, neutral spirit flavor with more tannins, light fresh-cut oak (with a pinch of nutmeg or anise depending on the sip), faint funky pineapple, and a little mint. Overall, a good aged, sipping rum that also happens to be a budget rum. If I included the smell of the empty glass in the rating, I might bump it up to a 4.25 for the great spicy, barrel, and brown sugar-crusted banana bread muffin aromas.

A potent, banana-like aroma with a hint of paint thinner. The taste includes strong funk, toffee that develops into a funky caramel if held on the tongue, ripe banana, and faint anise. While the funk is noticeable in both smell and taste, it's not overwhelming. As a rum, it possesses sweetness, but it's not excessive, making it a great everyday option for those who enjoy funky, non-sugary rum. A small ice cube slightly reduces the alcohol's sharpness, mellows the strong funk, and diminishes the paint thinner scent, while subtly enhancing the anise flavor. The rating is based on tasting it neat.

This is the fourth time sampling this evening from a half-full bottle. Overpowering radish aroma! It also has notes of rubbing alcohol and, as expected, tastes like aged sweet urine that has been stored in French oak barrels. The burn from the alcohol is noticeable in both the taste and the lingering finish. Significant wood and tannin presence. If you weren't aware, discerning the cognac flavor would be quite challenging.

Excellent for what it is, essentially a blended whiskey equivalent. Don't expect complex displays of exotic tasting notes, or any distinct hogo or terroir. However, I believe this is a skillfully crafted blend that achieves its intended purpose very effectively.