Planteray Jamaica 2009

Cask 2, bottle 140. Not at all what I anticipated from a Jamaican rum. Quite subdued on the nose, with no "funk" at all, just caramel, vanilla, faint tropical fruits, and brown sugar on the nose; some red fruits appear late. It’s slick and rich on the palate, no burn, semisweet and slightly viscous with more of the caramel, vanilla, tropical, and red fruits from the nose. Finish is medium length and slightly spicy with the same notes from the nose and palate. Not terribly exciting but certainly very sippable. Forgot that I had tasted a sample of this previously. I guess I was not as impressed this time, but will certainly enjoy this bottle to the finish!

If I hadn't known it was Jamaican rum, I might not have identified it as rum at all. It presents more like a bourbon that was finished in rum and wine barrels, both in aroma and flavor. Cask 2, bottle 139. The nose is rich with vanilla, caramel, and red wine. The palate begins buttery, with more vanilla, caramel, red wine, baking spices, and barrel notes, plus hints of tropical fruit. The medium-length finish starts with a brief bitter note before fading into a spiced rum character.

Aroma: hints of caramel, pear, fruit, banana, mirabelle plum, esters, vanilla, coconut, white chocolate, pineapple, honey, marzipan. Taste: chocolate, pineapple, fruit, red apple, very mild alcohol presence, spices, almond. Finish: brown sugar, chocolate, woody bitterness, honey. The nose is very intriguing and complex, but the taste doesn't quite live up to expectations.