Planteray Panama 2007 Single Cask

The Bottle: Superior to the typical Plantation offering. The darker label with a touch of purple truly makes it stand out. As with all other Plantations, the back label provides ample good information about the actual spirit, not just marketing hype. In the Glass: Light bronze. On the Nose: My experience with Panamanian rums is somewhat limited, but they seem to possess a style as distinct as any from the neighboring islands. Brown sugar is prominent, with a hint of spices underneath. This is not a tropical fruit explosion; it's actually quite restrained. Very pleasant, even at 46% ABV. Taste: The arrival is quite soft, and then the development accelerates. Sweet and spicy with a noticeable alcohol kick. The finish dries out very nicely without becoming bitter or astringent. I'm left with a pleasant touch of sweetness on both sides of my tongue and some warmth in my throat that encourages another sip. Again, like with the nose, I don't detect many fruit-based flavors; it appears to be all about the cane (and that's perfectly acceptable to me). Perhaps it's not as polished as a Panama-Pacific 23, but it's certainly well-crafted enough to be enjoyed neat or in any high-end cocktail requiring a higher-proof aged rum. Quite good, overall.