Plantation Extrême No. 2: Guyana 18yo Rum

Guyana
59.7%
£130

Pure Single Rum – 100% Pot Still

ABV Hydrometer Test: 59-60% ABV @ 20°

* P

To anyone in the rum world, Plantation needs no introduction. Their philosophy is to take some rum, ship it to France and give it a secondary ageing alongside a Champagne-style “dosage” of sugar to “finish” it off.

Occasionally, Plantation release some really amazing rums without any “dosage.” The highlight of these expressions are the “Extrême” range.

According to Plantation’s web site:

“Sometimes we find a rum barrel in our cellar that is simply perfect in its natural state. Striving not for balance or harmony, it stands alone for its uniqueness of taste which can only be described as “extreme”. This cask is then set aside and bottled for its sheer exquisite essence, resulting in a very limited edition of what we call Plantation Extrême.”

Being a lover of cask strength unadulterated rums, I was excited to find and buy the second pair of Extrême bottles and today, I am reviewing the second of them – an 18yo bottle from Guyana offered at tasty 59.7%. This rum was distilled on March 23rd 1999, aged for 15 years in ex-Bourbon casks in Guyana and then an extra three years in an ex-Cognac cask in France, replicating Plantation’s dual-ageing technique, familiar to all Plantation rum drinkers. It was bottled on September 8th 2017. The label states that I have bottle number 33 out of just 1,000 produced.

Under Richard Seale’s/Luca Gargano’s proposed rum categorisation, this would most-likely be classed as a “Pure Single Rum” – 100% Pot Still distillate. It was distilled in the (now closed) Uitvlugt Distillery using Diamond Distilleries Limited (DDL) well known Port Mourant pot still.

When tested with my hydrometer, it measured between 59 and 60% so therefore has no detectable added sugars, which is reassuring.

Bottle/Presentation 3/3

 

Presented in a chic looking outerbox, the bottle contained within looks very “premium.”

It has an oversized stopper embossed with Maison Ferrand on the top and features an artificial cork enclosure.

The bottle has Plantation’s familiar raffia netting around it and the label has lots of useful information (see above) about the distillation and the special nature of this bottling.

 

This looks impressive!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glass/Aroma 8/10

The rum presents itself as a medium to dark amber colour. There is a touch of a greenish hue on the surface.

This is quite a familiar Port Mourant aroma – bitter plums, Demerara sugar, spicy pepper and leather dominate.

There is tobacco smoke and cherries along with a touch of vanilla.

Taste, Initial-middle 35/40

 

This rum has a beautiful entry. The smokey tobacco leading to a peppery spiciness.

 

 

Taste, Middle/Throat 35/40

As this reaches the mid-palate the initial spiciness builds to become very powerful. The high ABV is playing its part. In the background, there is a hint of cream soda, such is the buttery and creamy texture alongside a hint of vanilla.

But as this reaches the rear of the palate, the spice really dominates – lots of freshly milled black pepper is almost overwhelming at first. But add a few drops of water and give this time in the glass and the rum opens out to present banana, crème brûlée and a hint of nutmeg. This is joined by a drying oak influence.

 

 

 

Afterburn 5/7

The black pepper is the main flavour here but there is also some oakiness and a touch of fresh citrus that helps to balance the pepper.

 

 

TOTAL 86/100

 

Overall

Proof that “dosage” is not needed in rum. If the original distillate and resulting aged-distillate are good enough, they taste amazing without the need for adulteration.

I really do love this rum although at £130 per bottle it is pricey. If you are fortunate enough to fine one for sale, expect to pay double that now.

The Port Mourant still has produced a really great end result here but it’s those 15 years of tropical ageing that have given this rum so much character alongside Maison Ferrand’s extra three years in France of course.

As I said with the Plantation Extrême No. 2: Fiji Islands 16yo Rum….. Take a bow Plantation…this is great stuff, but take note for other editions: Stop the “dosage” please…..It is not needed!

Review No. 106

*
P Denotes the rum contains POT still distillate.
C Denotes the rum contains traditional/Coffey COLUMN still distillate.
B Denotes the rum contains a BLEND of POT and COLUMN still distillate.
M Denotes the rum contains MULTI-COLUMN still distillate or is a MODERN rum.
A Denotes the rum is an AGRICOLE i.e. from Cane Juice.
S Denotes the rum is presented in a SWEETENED style.

Marking Guide:
Bottle/Presentation Out of 3
Glass/Aroma Out of 10
Taste, Initial-middle Out of 40
Taste, Middle/Throat Out of 40
Afterburn Out of 7
TOTAL 100