Planteray XO - 20th Anniversary Rum 750ml

Planteray XO 20th Anniversary was created by Maison Ferrand to mark the twentieth anniversary of Alexandre Gabriel's tenure as master blender. The brand, previously sold as Plantation Rum before adopting the Planteray name in some markets, is produced by Ferrand at their Château de Bonbonnet in southwest France, where selected rum stocks from Barbados are brought together and finished under Gabriel's direction. The bottling has become one of the label's flagship expressions and has gone on to collect dozens of international medals.

The rum is distilled from Barbadian molasses at the West Indies Rum Distillery, drawing on a mix of column and pot still spirits ranging roughly from eight to twenty years old. These component rums are first matured in the tropical climate of Barbados in used bourbon casks, then shipped across the Atlantic to France, where they undergo a second maturation of up to several years in small oak casks previously used for Ferrand cognac. This two stage aging process, sometimes called double aging, is intended to soften the spirit while layering in additional depth from the cognac casks.

On the nose the rum offers vanilla, cocoa, and ripe banana, with roasted coconut and a hint of mango. The palate is rich and rounded, carrying caramel, toasted oak, and warm baking spice through to a long, smooth finish.