Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry

Funky nose, drier than the usual plantation offering. Pleasant enough to sip leaving a deep chest warmth. Kind of a stewed fruit kind of taste at the end of a short finish. Tried it with coconut water, then ginger beer too but they didn’t add anything. Best with one ice cube.

I love Jamaican rums, and this one blew me away. Pure pot-still Jamaican rums that have such wonderfully crafted progressions on the palate, and have such wonderful flavor and aroma are typically rare finds. The shelf at my local liquor store had at least 10 bottles on it, relatively untouched with a $25 price tag.

The qualities of this rum are undoubtedly Jamaican. The classic banana and pineapple character is given different floral dimensions, while the mouthfeel has a degree of richness and oily texture without feeling sweet. The finish in lingering and delicious; I can't seem to get over that oily character (coming from long-pond distillates).

I believe 10/10 rating on a spirit is an extraordinary rating reserved for only truly special rums. Some might wonder about the seriousness of giving a $25 bottle such a rating. My reason is this: while there are many examples of excellent Jamaican pot-still rums out there, many showcasing more aging or overproof qualities, how many are readily available at a $25 price point, and with all the exceptional character noted above? This is a special rum - A welcome new addition to the Plantation lineup and a permanent addition to my shelf.