I have heard a lot of good things about Pierre Ferrand both in the Cognac & the Rum worlds. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to try most of his offerings, although from what I’ve tasted, I can say I wasn’t disappointed. Xaymaca Special Dry is one of the latest of the Plantation Series & it’s a 100% pot still rum from Jamaica. I fell in love with as soon as I opened the bottle, the hogo, the funk & the fruitiness were really inviting. Xaymaca means Jamaica in the ancient tongue of Arawak, some of the first inhabitants of the island.
Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry
Distilled by Maison Ferrand (at Clarendon & Long Pond distilleries)
Type: Pot Still Aged Jamaican Rum
Region: Lionel Town & Clark’s Town, Jamaica
Age: 1-3 years in ex-Bourbon barrels in tropical climate & 1 year in ex-Ferrand barrels in continental climate.
ABV: 43% (86 proof)
Rums’ provenance: Jamaican only
Colouring: No
Appearance: 9/10
The rum comes in a Pirate-like bottle with some braided rope all around it. The shape & size is very handy when pouring & it doesn’t take too much space. As always, I appreciate the use of a cork top, giving a more elegant look & preserving the liquid from evaporation. Ferrand unfailingly supplies many details on the labels which is a refreshing sight in the rum industry. On the back of the bottle you have pretty much all the information you could be asking for & if it’s not enough, the website goes even more into specific details. In the glass, the rum is amber with some golden hues & when tilted, some large crest forms & plenty of fine legs take their time to make their way back to the liquid. I wish more of their products would come in neat boxes in order to deliver that final blow.
Nose: 12.5/15
The nose is a balance between hogo & fruits with a background of smokiness & baking spices. The hogo is reminiscent of game meat, old leather, peanuts & mashed banana. Then comes the fruit with distinct notes of overripe tropical fruits such as peaches, pineapples, coconut, oranges & mangoes. There’s a faint cooked orchard fruit odour, like some poached pears or an apple pie as well as strawberry syrup. Throughout the nosing a whisper of ash & grass smoke lingers, adding to the funkiness. Finally, a subtle blend of vanilla, cinnamon, brown sugar, cloves & cardamom seems to appear from time to time. The Bourbon & the Cognac sure had their influence on the rum, but the pungent & funky aroma is clearly dominant without being overwhelming.
Mouth: 13/15
The 86 proof of the rum is not too intense, only leaving a warming & piquant feeling on the tongue & down the throat. The body is medium to full, a pleasant acidity elevates the fruity quality to another level & the palate is unmistakably dry. Some fine tannins from the wood are still there but are smooth & well-integrated giving a soft velvety feeling. The profile of the rum seems to shift slightly towards the fruit instead of the hogo, leaving more space to some bananes flambées, orange peel & juicy pineapple notes. The smokiness takes up more room as well, mingling with the meatiness creating a more balanced profile. A rich earthiness settles with the baking spices & the vanilla. The palate matches the nose, although in a more complex way, diminishing the funky aromas to leave space to all the subtleties.
Finish: 7/10
The finish is medium with some fruits in the first few seconds that quickly disappears into the funk & the smoke which lingers for a while. A few minutes after the sip, the flavours seem to merge in a medicinal quality, slightly decreasing the overall experience.
Overall: 83/100
This is not something I would recommend to anyone trying to find a sipper or a nice addition to their bar. However as a bottom shelf spiced rum it stands against other similar products. If you happen to have a bottle, I advise using it in drinks that have a lot of fruit juices or in a cocktail where it’s only there in small quantities & you will do just fine.
3 word description:
Hogo, Tropical & Tart.
The Reference
More information @ plantationrum.com/plantation-xaymaca
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