Planteray (Plantation) Rum Barbados XO 20th Anniversary

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 40% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: Yes

Special Features:

Planteray XO 20th Anniversary combines tropical ageing on Barbados with a further maturation period in France. The blend comprises older molasses rums from the West Indies Rum Distillery, distilled in both a two-column still and a pot still after three to five days of fermentation. They first mature in bourbon casks on Barbados. Various casks are used for the subsequent ageing, including new white oak casks, bourbon casks and Ferrand cognac casks with different levels of toasting.

The two ageing locations affect the rum differently: the warmth of Barbados intensifies interaction with the wood and evaporation. The cooler climate of the Cognac region then allows for slower development. Cask selection, toasting and successive maturation periods together contribute to the XO’s character. A dosage of 20 grams of sugar per litre adds to its sweetness.

The anniversary bottling was created as a surprise from the team for Alexandre Gabriel, celebrating his twenty years of work as a blender. The number in the edition’s name therefore refers to the anniversary, not the rum’s age. What began as a personal gift became a permanent bottling in the house’s range. Today it bears the Planteray brand name; the same rum was previously offered under Plantation. This version contains 0.7 litres at 40% alcohol and comes in gift packaging.

Alongside its pronounced coconut and vanilla character, the XO offers floral and fruity impressions as well as cocoa and milk chocolate. Its gentle, cinnamon-like spice combines with sweet molasses notes and a soft, almost chewy mouthfeel. Further flavours recall spice cake, rum chocolates and sweet biscuits.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Toasted coconut leads the nose and becomes even more prominent over time. Vanilla and orange complement the sweet-smelling aromas.
• Palate: Vanilla takes the lead on the palate, with coconut receding into the background. The rum tastes soft and sweet without seeming overly sweet.
• Finish: Coconut dominates again on the finish. An oily, supple mouthfeel also lingers.

Distillery/Bottler:

The rum comes from Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery on Barbados. George Stade founded the distillery with his brother in 1893 at Spring Garden Beach. The location offered access to fresh water and the sea. Stade worked on technical innovations for rum and sugar production and held several patents. The distillery’s historical holdings include old distilling equipment and records of rum production preserved over generations.

Planteray is Maison Ferrand’s rum brand, shaped by founder and Master Blender Alexandre Gabriel. Its ageing approach involves maturing the rums first in their country of origin, then allowing them to age further in France. For the XO, the teams at Maison Ferrand and the West Indies Rum Distillery were already working together before the distillery became part of Maison Ferrand. The selection and blending of the rums, together with their further maturation, connect rum production on Barbados with the cognac house’s cask expertise.

Facts: