Plantation 2002 Panama

Tasted last November, the 2002 vintage as recently been succeeded by the 2004, which I am eager to taste.
As the brand Ambassador explained at the tasting, Central America has it's own style of rum. They use short column stills, with not too many rectification plates, and most of them have started producing rum in the last century or less, which makes their production a bit less standardized than let's say Barbados, Trinidad or Jamaica. This translates in a bigger variation between each Vintage.
This particular rum is the result of a 42 hours molasses fermentation, aged in upright standing ex-bourbon casks (aging vs "elevage") in high humidity warehouses.
Tropical notes: candied orange, clove, quince, profound. Bold and woody mouth feel with caramelized sugar and rum-raisin ice cream flavours. Gourmet finish on a ripe fruit note.

Alkohol: 42 %
Původ: Panama
Aroma: Med, cedr, kokosový ořech, vůně je "šťavnatá", hutná, prostě parádní. (91 b)
Chuť: Med, kůže, skořice, tousty, v dochuti pak cedr, elegantní dřevitost, připomínající starý nábytek, kostel. Po odpaření se v prázdné sklence cedrové dřevo zvýrazní, kdo zná vůni cedrové dýhy u doutníků, ví o co jde. (89 b)
Body: 90
Shrnutí: Byl jsem nadšen, opět ta Panama, to je styl, co mi prostě sedí.

Nothing special but good rum. It is better than other plantation brand rums.

I had the chance to test both the Plantation Panama 2002 and 2004 back-to-back and what a surprisingly big difference between these two rums. Both Plantation Panama rums have a sweet flavor on the nose, but the Panama 2002 is much dryer than the Panama 2004. Both exhibit very nice vanilla flavors and a hint of banana and no burn at the end at all. Both rums are very nice, but the Panama 2002 scores a 7, whereas the Panama 2004 is much sweeter and has a better flavor profile scoring an 8.

Soft and smooth is mentioned a few times in the reviews, could not agree more. My only other Plantation rum I have to reference it against is the 20th Anniversary XO which is bursting with toasted coconut flavor. This one is definitely more honey and bananas, attempting to not finish this bottle too quickly has been a challenge.

Really nice and smooth rum. Was surprised by its taste and overall flavour.

So sweet n smooth, I can't help but want more. Stocking stuffers.

Bon rhum de la maison Plantation. Un de mes meilleur dans les millésimé

Nice rum but not as good as the Barbados or Nicaragua vintage in my opinion