Review: Plantation Original Dark 73 % Overproof Rum  84.5/100
a review by Chip Dykstra (Aka Arctic Wolf)
Posted on May 17, 2012

Cognac Ferrand has long a history of providing Cognac Casks to various Caribbean rum producers based upon the rum producer’s need for quality oak casks to age their rum. Because of this long history Cognac Ferrand has over time developed solid relationships with many of these producers. Based upon these relationships they have been able to acquire certain unique batches of rum from various Caribbean sources. Typically these rums are brought back to France to be finished in their own warehouses and of course in their own Cognac Casks.

The Plantation Original Dark 73 % Overproof Rum  is Cognac Ferrand’s ‘tiki style’ overproof rum. The base rum is a column distilled rum from Trinidad which was aged in oak barrels in Trinidad before being transported to France.

In The Bottle 4/5

The Plantation Overproof arrives in a 1.14 liter clear bottle shown to the left. I like the label design especially that red diagonal stripe with 73 % Overproof written in black across it. I like it because it catches my eye and causes the bottle to stand out on my bar shelf. When I look for an overproof rum, it is typically the first bottle that I notice (and that is the point is it not).

I do not like metallic screw caps, especially for an overproof rum. Some persons have claimed my dislike for these caps is unreasonable, but in just a few short weeks I have twice had a metallic cap strip as I opened a bottle of rum, and one of those two bottles was this one. I was forced to find a suitable cork in order to reseal each bottle. This has happened to me several times in the past few years, and always it is a pressed on metallic screw cap which is the culprit. My dislike for this style of closure continues.

In the Glass 8.5/10

The Plantation Overproof carries a bright copper reddish-brown colour into the glass and a rich (although somewhat astringent) aroma into the breezes above the glass. The rum is bottled at 73 % alcohol by volume, and the high alcohol content pushes up out of the glass causing the astringency. The high alcohol content also means that the rum is relatively undiluted which means that all of the aroma (and the flavours too) will be much more concentrated than a regular 40 % alcohol by volume rum would be.

Within this rich aroma I can smell a strong butterscotch/caramel toffee which seems to rise up in waves out of the glass. Banana peel, marmalade and marzipan appear as well in a bouquet that despite the astringency is very inviting. Rounding out the nose are some very nice baking spices (vanilla, cinnamon, and brown sugar) which build up and remind me of my Mom’s cinnamon buns baking in the oven.

After I was finished my tasting sessions, I would take some time to sniff wonderful aromas of the empty glass. This aroma was rich with baking spices and lingering smells of canned fruit, nutmeg and cloves.

In the Mouth 51/60

Sipping the rum at full strength is a bit challenging to say the least. Yet when I did so, I was almost fond of the experience. I admit, I had to take it extremely easy as this rum carries an intense alcohol sting and assertive hot spices in its wake. The rich caramel toffee I noted on the nose was just as strong in the mouth, and the marmalade aroma I had sniffed earlier seems to have a lot of orange peel bite coming along with it for the ride. I spite of my admiration for the intense flavour, I decide that adding an ice-cube to the glass is probably a good thing.

When I add that ice-cube the heat is easier to handle, but only a little. I can more clearly taste baking spices and marzipan, and a real fruitiness has developed which has expressed itself as canned peaches and apricots.

Of course, I am not really supposed to be sipping this rum neat or with ice. This rum is meant for the cocktail. So before I went further, I poured my 1/2 ounce sample with the ice-cube into a glass with 2 ounces of cola. The rum is strong enough that all of those taste sensations which I noted earlier are clearly pushing through the cola, in particular the baking spices are being emphasized now such that a yummy cinnamon bun flavour was quite apparent in the mixing glass.

Next I decided to mix a more complex cocktail which I created call, the Hart Breaker. This cocktail combines an overproof rum with lime, agave syrup, and a heavy dose of crushed ice. It is really a great recipe, and with the Plantation Overproof, it was extremely tasty. I followed this up (the next day) with a true tiki recipe, the Zombie (see recipe below). The zombie kicked my tonsils hard; but again it was just plain tasty with the Plantation rum.

In the Throat 12.5/15

This is a full 146 proof rum with lots of heat and spice, and I was able to sip it when I added an ice-cube although, even with an ice-cube, the rum still carries heat to spare. However, there is also a good dose of intense fruit-filled flavour, and a surprisingly sweet honey-like aftertaste.

The After Burn 8.5/10

The Plantation Overproof Rum is a great overproof rum.  Whether just a simple rum and coke, or a more complex tiki drink, the rum mixes relatively easily into cocktails providing a nice flavourful high-octane boost. I recommend it heartily!

If you are interested in comparing more scores, here is a link to my other published Rum Reviews.
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Suggested Recipe:

The Zombie Plantation

1 1/2 Oz Plantation Guayana (Old Reserve)
3/4 Oz  Plantation Trinidad (Old Reserve)
1/2 oz  Apricot Brandy
1/4 oz Amaretto
1 oz Pineapple juice
1 oz Orange juice
1/2 oz Lime juice
1/2 oz Lemon juice
1 tsp Agave Syrup
Large Ice Cubes
Crushed Ice
Ice Chunks
1/2 oz Plantation Original Dark 73 % Overproof Rum
several slices of Orange, Lime and Lemon

Fill a tall glass with crushed ice and ice chunks
Add the slices of citrus fruit
Shake the first 9 ingredients with the ice cubes in a cocktail shaker
Strain into the tall glass filled with ice and citrus slices
Float the Plantation Original Dark Overproof Rum on the top
Enjoy very slowly as this cocktail has a lot of kick!

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My Scores are out of 100 and you may (loosely) interpret them as follows:

0-25     A spirit with a rating this low would actually kill you.
26-49   Depending upon your fortitude you might actually survive this.
50 -59  You are safe to drink this…but you shouldn’t.
60-69   Substandard swill which you may offer to people you do not want to see again.
70-74    Now we have a fair mixing spirit.  Accept this but make sure it is mixed into a cocktail.
75-79    You may begin to serve this to friends, again probably still cocktail territory.
80-84    We begin to enjoy this spirit neat or on the rocks. (I will still primarily mix cocktails.)
85-89    Excellent for sipping or for mixing!
90-94    Definitely a primary sipping spirit, in fact you may want to hoard this for yourself.
95-97.5 The Cream of the Crop
98+       I haven’t met this bottle yet…but I want to.

Very loosely we may put my scores into terms that you may be familiar with on a Gold, Silver, and  Bronze medal  scale as follows:

70 – 79.5    Bronze Medal (Recommended only as a mixer)
80 – 89.5     Silver Medal (Recommended for sipping and or a high quality mixer)
90 – 95         Gold Medal (Highly recommended for sipping and for sublime cocktails.)
95.5+            Platinum Award (Highest Recommendation)