Plantation’s line of rums are multi award winning and feature regularly at events around the world. They are a very active, if relatively new player (if we trace rum back to 1703 certainly) in the rum world.

Plantation are to all intents and purposes an independent bottler. However, such is their status and presence within the rum community they have perhaps passed over into the rum mainstream. It should be remembered they do have the backing and are part of Cognac-Ferrand.

It is likely that many Plantation lovers the are not really concerned with which distillers Plantation obtain their rums from (or have even given it much thought at all). It is likely this rum is from the “Volcano” Distillery operated by Compania Licorera de Nicaragua. Producers of the highly acclaimed Flor de Cana rums.

I haven’t been able to determine exactly how long the rum was aged (or likely as its Plantation double aged). The Plantation Nicaragua 2003 is aged for nine years. I would guess an estimate of around 8-10 years will be about right. There is also a bit of debate about whether the rum is pot, pot/column or column distilled. It is a column distilled rum from the information I have been able to find. Again if anyone has any corrections let me know but please cite your sources as I am getting a lot of information that cannot be verified when requested.

If you can find a bottle of this rum (it is quite scarce now) it will cost around £35-40. I was very lucky to get this on sale via Amazon for just over £20. The rum is bottled at 42% ABV and comes in a 70cl bottle. As always the presentation on the Plantation is a cut above most with a nice straw/fibre mesh on the bottle and a corked enclosure with a blue sealing strip. The bottle also has some nice detailing on it (the Plantation emblem on the neck for example)

I have little experience of Nicaraguan rums (even less experience of trying to pronounce them thankfully!). I’ve only tried the Flor de Cana 12 Centenario and as my review shows, I was less than enthused. It was very average. I was quite surprised and very disappointed with it. I’m hoping that Plantation’s double ageing techniques will add an extra dimension to this rum.

Much like the Flor de Cana 12 the Plantation Nicaragua has a very inviting nose. There are strong scents of brown sugar, honey and a little vanilla. The rear of the bottle suggests oak and some vegetal notes. There is a little light oak but there is nothing which I would describe as vegetal. Certainly no agricole like notes which is what the descriptor leads me to expect. Overall it’s quite a light style of rum.

I have to say before I start my tasting section of the review I’m disappointed by Plantation’s own Tasting notes. “A variety of flavours”. To be honest they might as well have not bothered. This is very unlike Plantation – lazy and unimaginative. Strange. The 2003 Reserve is explained on the Plantation site as “The begining is marked by floral notes, then notes of cashew nuts, passion fruits and sweet spices are developed”

Anyway, we don’t need Plantation’s explanations when we have my superb palate do we? Ahem, The Nicaragua Old Reserve is quite a sweet tasting rum. The 2003 edition is finished in Brandy casks but I’m unsure how this was finished (in truth I haven’t got a lot of information to go from!). If I compare the Plantation Nicaragua to the Flor de Cana 12 then there is definite evidence of a sweeter profile. This is without doubt a less dry, more sweet rum. In many respects it is all the better for that. Plantation’s dosage (they freely admit adding sugar post distillation) seems justified.

The flavour of the Nicaragua Old Reserve is similar to the nose and offers few surprises. Sweet brown sugar almost honey like notes a little nuttiness and a nice rich oaky vanilla note on the finish. Upfront the rum is initially very sweet but fades nicely into light vanilla notes and then a very pleasant oaky aftertaste with quite a long finish.

The rum is nicely balanced. It is still a little dry but the upfront sweetness gives it a little extra that I found lacking in the Flor de Cana 12. It’s a very easy drinking if not a very challenging sipper. It will be slightly too sweet for some but it is clear that Plantation know their market.

The rum also mixes nicely in long drinks. It is still quite rummy and makes for a very enjoyable rum and cola. I guess the fact I paid only £20 for this meant I could be afforded that luxury! To be fair you would probably opt for the Barbados 5 Year Old if you wanted a “posh” sweet mixer.

This is a pretty good sipping rum and probably to expensive to be considered a mixer for most. It’s decent stuff all round though nothing spectacular.

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