Planteray Single Cask 2021 Barbados 10YO

This is my initial assessment of a special rum bottle. It has been aging for some time and is nearly gone, so it should be open and interesting. The aroma is subtly sweet at first, followed by a buttery note that reminds me of butter on a stack of hot, fresh pancakes with syrup – the butter is prominent, with syrupy sweetness in the background. It also has hints of candied nuts, likely from the sherry influence. The aroma is interesting and pleasant, without strong "rummy" notes, just a bit of ethanol. The first taste presents an unusual combination of sweetness and... unfamiliar, distinct flavors. It's thick and oddly sweet, almost like old cough syrup that might be past its prime. The palate requires some adjustment. The second sip begins with caramel sweetness and transitions to more of those sweet, syrupy, herbal notes, similar to drinking sweet vermouth neat. The heavy sherry influence is likely responsible for this. The third and subsequent sips offer more of the same, but the initial unusual notes become more familiar. The progression is caramel to a subtle medicinal sweetness, then to drying herbal notes akin to vermouth. The finish actually becomes somewhat dry, initially with a bit of sweet heat, then black pepper, and finally fading to hints of nutmeg and depth... perhaps tobacco smoke? Yes... the more I sip, the smokier the finish becomes. It's intriguing. The finish is medium-long, enjoyable for its added dimension and for prompting me to take another sip. The sweetness doesn't build on my palate like some people complain about with plantation products, especially those with high dosage. However, this bottle could be described as a "sherry bomb," with a significant sherry cask influence. The sweet vermouth comparison keeps recurring, as does the smoke. I enjoyed the first taste of this bottle with a fine cigar and excellent company. The pairing was fortunate and turned out to be quite good. The unique sweetness and smoky finish perhaps complement a cigar pairing well. Overall, the strong sherry influence results in a unique and distinctive rum, but one that lacks many typical rum characteristics. Personally, I enjoy rum for its inherent qualities, so while I appreciate that this offers something different, it makes me wonder about the potential qualities of a 10-year rum in this bottle. I could perhaps do with a little less sherry. Oh well. 3.75/5

I was so excited to get this bottle today and opened it right after work. The bottle hadn't settled, and I did a neck pour. My initial impression was of heavy, rich sherry with caramel, nuts, cocoa, coffee, tropical fruits, a robust barrel influence, baking spices, and a hint of heat. Very pleasant! I finished the bottle on 12-29-23. The tasting notes remain consistent, but it seems slightly improved since the first tasting. I've increased the rating by a quarter point.