Plantation Rum Guadeloupe Vintage 1998

Product name: Plantation Rum Guadeloupe Vintage 1998

Brand: Plantation 
Distillery: Plantation Rum
Alcohol by volume: 42%
Alcohol proof:
Age: Vintage 1998
Spices:
Produced since:
Country of Origin: Barbados / Guadalupe

Official info:

Chateau de Bonbonnet, Ars, France (January 27, 2012) – Plantation Rum announces the addition of a hand-crafted and limited edition Plantation Rum Guadeloupe Vintage 1998 to its distinguished collection of artisanal rums. It is the only rum in the Plantation Rum portfolio made from 100% pressed sugar cane and as such should be labeled a
rhum agricole. According to quota limits established by the AOC (Appellation d’origine contrôlée), this is one rum that cannot bear this recognition. Despite this, it was still named “Best Rhum Agricole Aged Over 4 Years” at the UK RumFest 2010. This rum is just now available in the US. Created by spirits visionary Alexandre Gabriel, a man committed to producing specialty spirits so distinctive and revolutionary that they set the bar for all others, only 600 bottles of Plantation Guadeloupe Vintage
1998 are released for the US market, retailing for approximately $64.99 (42% ABV) and available now nationwide.

The rums in the Plantation portfolio are made with a proprietary Cognac Ferrand “double-aging” technique that is not used by any other producer in the industry. With the exception of Guadeloupe which is made from sugar cane, all Plantation Rums are made from molasses, distilled, put into casks and aged (for a time) in their country of origin before being shipped to the Cognac Ferrand estate in France where they are finished in previously used casks and then bottled. The portfolio shows the true terroir of the rum and includes blends from Barbados as well as limited edition vintages from Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama and Trinidad.

Regarding Plantation Guadeloupe’s rum vs. rhum agricole labeling, according to the AOC, limited quotas of rum produced in Guadeloupe and Martinique can bear the “rhum agricole” label. This rum was simply over quota, so it could not bear that name. However, in every other way, Plantation Guadeloupe technically fits the rhum agricole definition: produced in Guadeloupe, distilled from 100% pressed sugar cane juice, in a short column still (15 to 25 trays) then aged for 11 years (in Guadeloupe) in large French oak casks. Once they reached this maturity, these selected casks were shipped to Cognac Ferrand where they were poured into previously used casks and aged for one more year before bottling.

“Most rhum agricoles that I tasted were not a good tasting profile match for a second aging in our casks,” says Alexandre Gabriel. “Some have this vegetal quality that would not agree with the rancio aromas from our barrels which is this hard-to-describe nutty, spicy, sandalwood essence that comes from old casks. This rum was an exception, and showed some unusual potential. Now after 12 years of aging, we find we have a truly unique Guadeloupian gem to share.”

Plantation Guadeloupe 1998 was originally released as a single barrel edition in the German market only in 2010. Unbeknownst to Cognac Ferrand, one of these bottles was entered into the Rhum Agricole” category at the UK RumFest competition and was awarded “Best Rhum Agricole Aged Over 4 Years” in the Golden Rum Barrel Awards even though it did not bear this label! Its fellow nominees included some of the best rhum agricoles in the world, making this recognition even sweeter.

TASTING NOTES – Plantation Guadeloupe Vintage 1998
Possessing subtle orange and vanilla flavors with touches of dried fruits, the liquid is perfectly balanced, round and lush with a long smooth and fruity finish. It has a strong aroma with slight notes of citrus and oak.

Web address: www.plantationrum.com

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