Notes: This rum is part of the Planteray lines of rum  (Original Dark, Monymusk Overproof 63%, XO 2oth Anniversary,  Mauritius 2013, Isle of Fiji, Sealander, , Barbados 5 Year Old, Belize 2008.Xamaca, Cut and Dry Coconut Rum, Stiggins Fancy Pineapple Rum Original 1824 Recipe, Canerock Spiced Rum   and this the Plantation 3 Stars White Rum ,) among  others  by the cognac house of Pierre Ferrand. This is part of a rebranding of the rum lines for the Pierre Ferrand Cognac house, which has also produced the Mathilde Liqueurs such as the Peach which we reviewed earlier, along with a Peach, Pear, Black Currant, Raspberry, and Orange XO. Their products also include Citadelle Gin, Citadelle Reserve Gin, Citadelle Rouge Gin, Citadelle Jardin D Été Gin, Citadelle Vive Le Cornichon Gin, Citadelle Vodka, Magellan Gin, and a host of other spirits. Alexandre Gabriel  the head of Pierre Ferrand is constantly blending and experimenting with new products as both an enthusiasm/hobby and also to develop new products. I highly recommend visiting the distillery  if you get a chance – it is a delight to both the eye and the palette.

This particular rum has a somewhat complicated backstory which is worth retelling. While all the rums from the Ferrand Planteray series are made according to the usual methods dependent on country of origin (raw material and distillation techniques) they are then taken to Cognac and aged using very unusual and unique techniques that no one else uses for aging rum. Pierre Ferrand ( the brand not an individual – that would be Alexandre Gabriel) uses small cognac barrels to age all their rums while most of the industry uses old bourbon barrels to finish their rum.
This rum is a blend from 3 different countries and areas ( hence 3 stars).I’m going to quote directly from the webpage now for clarity; ” Planteray 3 Stars Silver Rum is a skillful blend of the best the Caribbean has to offer from Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad.  Each Island has a distinct rum style developed over centuries and brings its own special character to Planteray 3 Stars Silver Rum:  matured Trinidad rum imparts its classic elegance, Barbados delivers sophistication with a balanced mouth feel and Jamaica conveys its unmistakable structure and rustic edge.” It is a combination of both geographic ands stylistic differences in fermentation, distillation, and aging techniques that are then married or blended by Alexandre Gabriel in small limousin oak cognac barrels

Technical Specifications Sheet here

Refreshingly Pierre Ferrand actually has a Technical Specification Sheet for each of their rums – a damn near nigh impossible to find thing in the rum industry . For the vast majority of rum companies the composition of their rum, origins, and ingredients are remarkably opaque – and the regulations for what they can do are rather, shall we say broad, if not almost nonexistent . Disclosure at the level of Planteray is not only unusual but refreshing.

Appearance:  Faultlessly clear, almost silvery in appearance, On swirling it leaves a gracefully thin coat on the glass which then starts to form some legs, but mostly small tears which then form droplets and tears .

First Impression: Tropical fruits, vanilla, minerals, cardamom, lovely structure of sweet , minerality,

Taste: Luscious, fruity and raw in an untamed alive kind of way with lots of cane, spice,vanilla, grass and mineral notes in a very vibrant and fresh tasting way. Nice spice and mineral structure gives the lush and floral notes structure and counterpoint so it is NOT one of those deadly sweet and little else rums, the alkali, mineral and oak notes structure the sweetness and add their own complexity and balance.

Drinks: Lovely and assertive but plays well with others. Strikes just the right balance of presence and contribution to a drink without overwhelming it. Everything from a mojito to a Zombie seemed to benefit from the use of this rum where the rum was identifiable and contributed to the overall drink, but did not fade away or drown the other ingredients. Well Done!

Bottle: Clear glass with a black plastic neck capsule with a composite cork closure <Somewhat rustic looking label with a small rectangular patched on label give it a vintage look. A lot of information on the rum on the label,Although the print size makes it hard to read for anyone over 30 years old…

Cigars: A youngish spicy cigar such as a Padron or Joya de Nicaragua non vintage, torpedo or smaller works well.

Final Thoughts: I usually am not a big fan of older white rums ( rums that were aged and filtered to remove color) between their price and their taste I never really saw the point. It was kind of a reverse of someone obviously older dyeing their hair and getting a lot of work – just doesn’t usually work, costs a lot  and is embarrassing to watch…
This rum on the other hand wears its age well, shows a lot of depth and nuance from age, but exhibits a lot of young traits and carries it off well. Not to mention the price is outstanding not only compared to the other rums of its type but the overall quality of the rum itself.

Website: http://planterayrum.com

A nicely done website with a lot of information on all their products along with a link to sign up for their newsletters and new product releases. Well worth a visit to understand all their rums and the sister pages for their other spirits.