Planteray Trinidad 2003

The aroma presents a lot of tropical fruit alongside some spice and funk. It smells heavenly. The taste is very sweet with abundant tropical fruit, but it's not overwhelming. There's some savory papaya, mango, and passion fruit providing balance. The vanilla and orange blossom are excellent additions. Wood and spice are present, and they effectively balance the hogo. All the flavors work well together, except for the slight alcohol presence that remains. This is surprisingly similar to Bushmill's 21, but likely superior and certainly less expensive. There are no other off notes, and the flavor is engaging and well-balanced. The white pepper contributes significant heat and some herbaceousness. The flavor is buttery and viscous, though the finish leans towards a lighter caramel taste. Hints of orange marmalade are subtle and pleasant. There's richness with some oiliness, giving a mild but distinct nutty flavor. No bitterness from the nuts, but it enhances the drink's creaminess and presence. This rates in the 20 to 21 range, demonstrating what rum can achieve. I appreciate the flavors and the complexity. It's a rum for everyone without being generic. A remarkable success. There's eventually a hint of root beer or cola. It becomes a bit too sweet at times but remains delightfully balanced and delicious. It's a bit less robust than other Plantation offerings with specified years, but still excellent. That trace of apricot is very much like an Irish whiskey, but this avoids the typical Irish flaw. It's not perfect, but I love it. This is more intriguing than Plantation 20th. It's certainly sweet, but it has nice flair and abundant tropical fruit notes. Wood and spice flavors are present but not overpowering. The balance is superb and it's interesting. I would prefer more complexity and a stronger impact, but it's a great drink. This tasting follows immediately after Foursquare Premise. The aroma is fruity. Not light, not overly sweet. Fruity. Apricot is prominent and rich, reminiscent of Bushmill's 21. Okay. I will compare it with Bushmill's 21. There are other tropical notes as well, similar to Kavalan Soloist Port, but without the dominant smoke. This is much more subtle. The aroma alone is captivating, with numerous layers to explore. This is the most complex aroma among the rums I've tasted. It surpasses Ron Diplomatico and Ron Zacapa. Foursquare Premise, you may not be outdone in sheer enjoyment here, but you've been put on notice. There's a very slight scent of squash and chili pepper, but they are subtle. It possesses a richness and engaging complexity that could hold my attention for days. Perhaps a touch of pineapple too. The palate is immediately sweet with fruit and a hint of minerality along with some vegetal notes (context: immediately after Foursquare Premise). It is packed with fruit. There's a floral element, but the apricot, pear, banana, mango, and pineapple are dominant. There's some harshness compared to other spirits, but it's not like the harshness of most whiskeys under 15 years old. Its harshness is comparable to a 15-year-old sherried whiskey, but this harshness adds vibrancy. It's rich and complex with excellent balance, tasting like impeccably aged rhum agricole. This is a treat with complexity from many different aspects of rum. Some umami comes through, and even a trace of the soy sauce and garlic found in Helios (in very small amounts). It's incredibly interesting. Not all the flavors are perfectly executed, but it's fascinating, and everything integrates well enough. It's a pleasure to contemplate. It's not quite on par with Foursquare Premise based on this tasting, but it's a compelling alternative that's delightful to drink and offers a fresh perspective. This is amazing, especially for the price. I'll rate it 21 for now, but it's truly a treasure. It represents rum (possibly just rhum agricole) perfectly, showcasing the purity of this tropical drink in a stunning manner. This is clearly superior to both Rons and Plantation 20th, although with its distinct character, I can understand why many might prefer more standard options (and also avoid Foursquare Premise). It's a true delight. Following it with Foursquare Premise, I still prefer the Foursquare slightly. Perhaps this is a 22 and that's a 23 then? But where does Springbank 12 fit? Springbank 12 is also in that 22 range, despite its increased waxiness. It tastes terrific right after Foursquare Premise. There's quite a collection of strong contenders here. Springbank 12's finish is slightly off, however.

The Bottle: Typical Plantation presentation, featuring a "tropical" front label and extensive back label details that may or may not capture your interest. I find them interesting. In the Glass: Straw-gold color. Visually light with attractive legs when swirled. On the Nose: Sweet tropical fruit, brown sugar, and a hint of an unidentifiable baking spice. It presents as a pleasant rum with minimal "hogo" or "funk". Taste: The sweetness detected on the nose carries through as it develops. Banana and perhaps mango? It’s a sweet tropical fruit medley with a slight astringency on the finish. Unlike many of its Jamaican counterparts, this does not finish dry, possessing a distinct character. The finish is slightly too sweet for my preference, though not nearly as sweet as something like Ron Diplomatico. It's not overly sugary. This is an excellent example of why Trinidadian rums are often discussed alongside those from Jamaica and Barbados. Each region offers robust selections and unique profiles. Trinidadian rums feel like the middle child in this group, often mediating between the distinct Older and Younger siblings. This offering is very well-rounded and crafted. While it might be a bit too sweet for those seeking a drier profile, it serves equally well sipped or mixed. For newcomers to "real" rum, this could be a great starting point. It lacks the complexity of finer Barbadian options and is not as... demanding (in a very positive sense) as some Jamaican spirits.

Nose: molasses, very ripe banana, herbal and vegetal notes, rich frosting, clove, lemon tart, mango, pineapple skin, caramel, honey, with a mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste: molasses, chili pepper, ginger, lemon oil, very ripe banana, pineapple, coconut, powdered sugar, raisin, macadamia nut, mint, clove, orange zest, tannic oak, with a moderate alcohol bite. The finish is medium length with deep citrus, molasses, and dried tropical fruit flavors. My Plantation collection concludes with this 2003 Trinidad release. The nose starts quite subtly but opens up considerably with time in the glass. Molasses, rich cake-like frosting, and a plethora of tropical fruit aromas. The palate is rich and spicy. Strong citrus oil notes lead with more tropical fruits, nuts, and noticeable wood flavors. Overall, this is the best of the bunch. It tastes less sugary than most Plantations, and it’s certainly more intriguing. It’s deeply citric, almost excessively so, but stops before becoming unpleasant. Actually, as I'm nearing the end of the review, I'm realizing this has grown on me over the past hour. This is really good stuff, outstanding even. I'd happily buy a bottle of this, but am grateful for the generous sample a friend sent me to review.

Nose: Faint ginger and cake-like aromas, dates, raw sugar, panettone, and some aged oak. Palate: A light and beautifully balanced initial taste with subtle sugars, cinnamon, clove, citrus zest, raisins, and hazelnut. Delicious and exceptionally smooth. A slight tobacco note is quite interesting, and as the palate develops, more orange and pronounced citrus flavors emerge. Finish: Medium. It actually dissipates quite quickly, with a vanilla-molasses presence being the last impression. Outstanding. A delightful light vintage rum. I sampled this from a pack of six 100ml Plantation bottles and am now determined to acquire a full bottle. It possesses a characteristic that is almost more akin to bourbon than rum (presumably due to aging in first-fill casks). Sweet without being excessively cloying, and with a light, almost ethereal texture rather than a heavy one. Those who prefer heavy rums might find this too light for their liking, but I consider it among the finest rums I have experienced. "Very Good": 87/100 (4.25 stars)

Following my encounter with the excellent 1991 vintage, I decided to acquire a bottle for my own collection. Finding a 1991 is highly unlikely, but I visited a liquor store hoping they might have one locally. Thankfully, they still allowed walk-in customers, with certain restrictions. After a considerable amount of time searching through every bottle of Plantation rum on their disorganized shelves, I located this 2003 vintage. I promptly used an app to check reviews, noted the excellent tasting notes from another user, and made the purchase. Tasting notes: Nose: Rich vanilla, caramel, molasses, and some type of dried fruits. Palate: Perfectly balanced sweetness, rich with caramel, vanilla, and molasses. Finish: Medium length with a hint of spice; the caramel and vanilla notes are sustained. Another delightful Plantation rum.

Nose: mango, peach, pineapple, coconut, honey, hint of vanilla, pear Palate: fruit, spices (pepper/nutmeg?), slightly toasted wood Finish: peach, pear, fruits, sugar beet syrup, spicy