Plantation XO 20th Anniversary Rum

N: Caramel, toasted brown sugar, green banana, earthy and funky minerals, some tropical fruit and flower notes. P: Cinnamon dusted caramel candy, pan fried banana in brown sugar, cooked vegetables with a savory and umami mushroom sauce note, tropical fruit notes. Good medium body to it with a relatively full feeling on the tongue. F: Short, slightly hot, funky, tropical, floral, with some mineral and wood bitterness. Had this one in my collection and sitting on a final pour for some time. Kinda forgot about it. It's a fine rum with surprising depth and complexity. I would love for it to have just a little more body as it gets to feeling a bit thin, particularly in the transition to the finish. A little less cutting and more proof could make this a killer sipping rum. As is, it's lovely and I would still recommend it. Good, fair price too. _______ Please come join an unofficial Distiller community on Discord: https://discord.gg/VSmCvzAQfH. We chat spirits (and other things) in real time while being a great resource to each other for recommendations, finding deals, and generally enjoying the journey together. (If the link is expired, please post a comment and I will provide a new one.)

Nose: Surprisingly mild and deeply inviting. Notes of brown sugar, molasses, honey, and cane drift over soft oak—warm, sweet, and impossible to resist. Palate: Exceptionally smooth and fruit-forward. Brown sugar leads, followed by honeyed molasses, raisin, pear, fig, apple, and soft plum. A hint of oak from the Cognac barrels balances the sweetness. Tastes like sipping a velvet-wrapped confection—sweet but never syrupy, rich but never cloying. Finish: Clean, fluid, and astonishingly soft—almost spring water in clarity. No alcohol burn whatsoever, despite its 80 proof. A world-class sipping experience. Final Thoughts: Truly a masterclass in balance and finesse. Complex yet effortless. This could be a daily sipper for life and never disappoint. An absolute steal at the price. --- Poem – by Sophie “Aging Grace” In a glass, the weight of years— sugar turned to silk, fruit pressed into memory, oak softened like a whispered name. No burn. No bite. Only warmth that unfolds like hands unclenching. A quiet luxury, sweet enough to trust, bold enough to stay. You could drink this forever and still taste something new.

An intense; 12 to 20-year-old dark rum by The West Indies Rum Distillery Ltd. for Maison Ferrand in Barbados. 'It is double distilled… once in a pot still & again in a column still. It is double aged, first in the Caribbean using ex-Bourbon barrels for as much as 20 years. Then it is shipped to France for 12-18 months of additional “cool-weather” aging in smaller, French oak casks. It has a rich & spicy birth with notes of oak, caramel, guava, a little desiccated coconut, sweet vanilla, butter & dried banana; while a warm & creamy life adds notes of dried tropical fruits, sweet baking spices, milk chocolate & orange zest; that led to a long & warm death with notes of toasted spicy praline, cherry, oak, spicy cedar, orange, cinnamon sticks & hints of leather. November 2018 / January / February 2019 / August 2020

The Plantation XO 20th Anniversary is a perplexing release. It possesses an aromatic profile that suggests depth and sophistication, but the actual tasting experience is one of letdown. The thin body and shockingly short finish make it difficult to reconcile with its premium positioning and price point. While it may appeal to those entirely new to aged rums who prefer an extremely light and non-challenging spirit, it is likely to be profoundly disappointing for anyone seeking the robust, complex, and long-lasting experience typically associated with a 20th-anniversary commemorative rum. Ultimately, this is an expression that raises expectations with its nose only to leave the palate with a sense of unmet potential and a distinct lack of satisfaction.

The Plantation XO 20th Anniversary offers a clear, red amber color and presents long legs indicative of its quality. On the nose, it exhibits dominant notes of oak and butterscotch, subtly complemented by cream and banana foster. The palate reveals a harmonious blend of cream, spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, brown sugar, and a slight hint of citrus, encased in a full, smooth texture. A medium finish follows, leaving a pleasant trail of creamy butterscotch that gently transitions into a soft buttered banana note. However, some might find it lacking in surprising elements or an enduring complexity. Overall Score: 4.31/5

The nose is refreshing and fruity. Vanilla, butterscotch, banana, coconut, pineapple, peach, and ripe mango come across immediately with the slightest hint of black pepper and tea. The palate matches the nose with vanilla, butterscotch, pineapple, and peach coming across and coating the tongue. The finish is of medium length and a very mild hint of pepper touches the throat. Not as complex as other rums and could be aided with a higher alcohol content but a very good sip nonetheless. Overall impressions: Nose - 4.5/5 Taste 4/5 Overall: 4.25/5 Repurchase: Yes Type: Special Occasion