Plantation Gran Anejo Guatemala

One of the latest addition in the Plantation portfolio, the updated version is actually a blend of rums from neighbouring Guatemala and Belize. Guatemala at least produces their rums using fermented sugar cane honey (evaporated sugar cane juice) instead of the traditional molasses. Guatemala also uses a mix of bourbon and sherry cask for aging in their own solera system. This makes it quite difficult to put an age statement on the label, and was confirmed by the Ferrand/ Plantation brand ambassador at a tasting event last November.
I went through a bottle of Gran Anejo with some of my friends last summer paring it with some nice cuban cigars. Montecristo no2 to be precise. Honestly the cigar was a bit overpowering, and maybe a lighter Hoyo de Monterrey would be a better match. Even then, the rum was delicious, with some dark chocolate aromas and flavours, and a distinctive licorice finish.
I bought another bottle :)

Full bodied, oily, allmond like aroma and taste, light sweet. Well ballanced rum, one of my all time favourites.

Not bad for not expensive drink. But it's Guatemalan vulcanos are poured with bunch of French sugar.

Nothing to complain, my favorite. In this price range, in my opinion the best. Basta

This Rum is so beautifully balanced in alcohol, body and natural sweetness with perfect notes of wood, and slight notes of chocolate and plums. A lovely piece of distilling work, satisfying the sipping afficionado with a taste for balanced, mild spirits.
A very pleasant sipping experience. Relaxing, soft. Beautiful work.

Sweet scent and sweet taste as well, that is followed by sharp spiciness and pungent hay aftertaste.

Whiskey aficionados might like it.

En af de beste rom jeg kender til prisen. Go at nyde med ikke rom kender.

Til prisen har den rigtig meget at byde på. Skøn rom, en blanding af frugt og sprit, uden for meget kunstig sødme.

Plantation Gran Anejo Guatemala was such a hard bottle to find in the US that it took me over 4 years of searching and scouring and finally a bottle emerged from Germany, so I had to grab one. Plantation Gran Anejo Guatemala offers a lot of exciting flavors and very clear but sweet flavors like raisins, it hardly has any burn at the end, but a very long and lingering sweet taste in your mouth. Having a back-to-back taste testing with the Plantation Gran Anejo Guatemala versus the Plantation Gran Anejo Guatemala & Belize and you will not find even the smallest amount of difference. They must be a different bottling year for the exact same rum. Plantation Gran Anejo Guatemala is still a long distance away from the amazing Barbados XO 20th Anniversary rum, but comes as a good second best Plantation rum in my books.

Here's my top 30 list:
1. Ron Tres Loco de Vinos from Vinoble Skanderborg
2. Ron Esclavo XO Cask Strength
3. Legendario Gran Reserva 15y
4. Cubaney Centenario 25-30y
5. Companero Panama
6. Ron Esclavo XO
7. Ron Millonario XO and 15y
8. Plantation Barbados XO 20th Anniversary
9. El Dorado 25y
10. Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva and Single Vintage
11. Presidente Marti 23y and 19y
12. Cubaney 18y
13. Pusser's 15y
14. Black Tot
15. El Pasador de Oro XO
16. Bavaro Black Ultra Premium
17. Punta Cana Esplendido
18. Edmundo Dantes 15y
19. Pampero Aniversario
20. Bacoo 12y
21. Ron Esclavo 15y and 12y
22. El Pasador de Oro Gran Reserva
23. Brugal Leyenda
24. Exquisito 1990 and 1995
25. Koloa Kaua'i Coconut
26. Plantation Gran Anejo Guatemala & Belize
27. Unhiq XO
28. Ron Hero 21y Solera
29. Punta Cana XOX
30. Ron Cartavio XO

It taste vanilla, nuts and chocolate and becomes even better with dark ckocolate. Round and with body! for the price 35 euros it is a bargain.