Gubba Rum President Steve Gubb (Interview)
Published by The Rumlab ago
...
Multiple | Aged | 40% ABV | Pot and Column Still
Plantation XO 20th Anniversary rum is a combination of pot-stilled and column-stilled Barbadian rums that are initially aged in the Caribbean in ex-bourbon casks for 12-20 years. They are then transported to France for a second 12-18 months aging in small French oak casks.
The first bottle of Plantation XO 20th Anniversary was created for the head of Cognac Ferrand Estate Alexandre Gabriel to honor his 20th year running the company. This special gift has resulted in the bottling we see today.
Sort by: Popularity | Newest | Oldest | Rating
Posted
7 months ago
Good flavor with vanilla and caramel tones. Smooth and sipable.
Because of this rum I started drinking rums. I was lucky I got this one as a gift. It opened my eyes about rums. After few years tasting diferent rums, this one is still the best. But I havent tried more expensive ones yet.
A very smooth rum that is perfect to drink pure or in a mix ( but i think that mixing this rum is a waste of the rum) hints of vanilla and oak. Not to sweet just perfect for me!
Posted
7 months ago
I would describe Plantation XO 20th to lack some character. It has a bit sweet and very mild fruity approach to the nose. Some say that it has some coconut flavour, maybe a bit of vanilla - and the barrel of course.
Very easy to drink and not that much after taste. I can see why people enjoy this. I would probably use this as an introduction to the rum world.
A rum as you would expect, nice flavor and long finish. Definitely worth it.
Posted
7 months ago
Great rum, my current favourite out a fair few we have tried.
Very smooth, can be neat or on the rocks.
For me a vanilla hint, it is sweet as well, but the rum does contain a bit more sugar than normal.
Well worth the buy.
Posted
8 months ago
This rum is very cool! I got this for my birthday, and as this, it was a really huge thing. The taste comes very gentle and every sip gets more intense. I really love the balance, strongly recommended!
Posted
8 months ago
I'm often puzzled by complex descriptions of nose and initial palate etc. I like to keep it simple. It's the finish on your palate that dominates your obverse experience. The finish on this one is demerara sugar. It doesn't taste like rum. Even with coke, it still dominates. Super over rated. Wasted my money and would never buy again
Posted
8 months ago
The occasion is moree important than the rum itself. This is what I would describe the Plantation XO with. Relatively sweet with hints of vanilla and coconut and very easy to drink. Nothing spectacular but I enjoyed a good occasion and the rum nicely complimented that!
Posted
8 months ago
It is not sweet as I am used to, but very nice, smooth one :)
Published by The Rumlab ago
×
Thanks to all of my fellow reviewers at Rum Ratings for leading me to this one!
I would compare this incredible rum to some very good progressive rock whereby one hears a little something different with each listening. The flavors change on this fine rum with almost every sip. There is no alcohol burn. It reminds me of a fine cognac, which is to be expected since it underwent final aging in Cognac France. This rum is truly a work of art. Sipping it neat is fantastic. Adding an ice cube brings out even more of the flavors. At $42 per bottle where I live and being readily available, it will be easy to find more when this bottle finally runs out.
After opening it up and testing that first pour, the next thing one should do is take a knife and cut off that stupid straw net surrounding the bottle. I know that it is a major feature of fine Plantation rums, but it really uglifies this gorgeous bottle. And for anyone who attempts to use this as a mixer, call out the pirates to chop their hands off. Aargh!!!
Update: after sitting in the bottle for two months with only a few sips removed, it has lost much of it's original flavor. This is not supposed to happen, so I dock it one point.
Update Dec 14, 2018: I finally bought my second bottle after 11 months, specifically to test it side by side against my first and last bottle of Ron Zacapa XO. Both are very fine rums with complex flavors, but this rum is dominated by fruit flavors from the cognac barrel aging and the Zacapa XO is dominated by the multiple agings in wood barrels. I honestly could not tell which rum cost the most, and this rum is slightly less than half the price of the Zacapa XO. It was also good to see that the price is still $42 almost a year later. It is now my responsibility to consume this new bottle in less than two months now that I know it's shortcomings due to added sugar and oxidation.
Update June 19, 2022: After a very long time, I finally bought another bottle of this rum and only because it came with two exclusive glasses in a gift box at the same price. Well, those glasses are basically cordial glasses on long stems. How appropriate and so fitting!!!! As for the rum, it now has a more peppery taste akin to tequila. Plantation continues to give rums from Barbados a bad name. And after much consideration, I am left with no choice except to lower my initial rating from an 8 to a 5 on this liqueur that pretends to be a rum.