For Christmas last year, I got Ann Marie a copy of Smuggler’s Cove’s book and our rum collection hasn’t been the same since. The book is a fantastic overview of tiki, talking through the history, providing recipes, and more importantly a list of rums to make the recipes. The list of rums is broken down into categories, typically referring to the base material used (molasses or sugar cane), the form of distillation (column or pot still), and the age (lightly aged, moderately aged, long aged, etc). In addition to these categories, there’s also recommended overproof rums – including Plantation O.F.T.D. Rum
On Its Own
Plantation O.F.T.D. Rum – or Old Fashioned Traditional Dark Rum – is made of a blend of rums from Guyana, Jamaica, and Barbados. The rum is the result of consultation between owner Alexandre Gabriel and a cadre of rum and spirits specialists, including Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, David Wondrich, Martin Cate (the owner of Smuggler’s Cove and writer of the book), and several others. O.F.T.D. is produced from molasses in both Pot and Column still methods and has sugar added (at 16g/L). There is also added color to ensure consistency. There’s a fairly good list of technical details on Plantation’s site.
Overproof spirits are undoubtedly hot, and Plantation O.F.T.D Rum is no exception. You would be advised to keep this away from your nose and avoid holding it for too long on your tongue on diluted – lest you enjoy the burning sensation. However, if you’re careful you can find a rather beautiful rum hiding behind the heat.
Plantation O.F.T.D. has a wonderful nose of caramel and molasses with notes of jammy orange and a mix of baking spices including cloves, cinnamon, and all-spice. Despite the alcohol, a sip starts relatively smooth. Flavors of raisins, dates, and other preserved fruits mix with molasses, creamy caramel, dark brown sugar. Hints of vanilla, coffee, oak, and orange round it out – and a subtle sweetness go throughout. The ending lingers with a fair amount of heat and subtle sweetness.
As a reminder – this is not a sipping rum without a healthy amount of water added. Use it for mixing.
Plantation O.F.T.D Rum – In Cocktails
The big bold flavors of Plantation O.F.T.D. Rum play well in a variety of tiki drinks we tried from Smuggler’s Cove*. We ended up using it in The Undead Gentleman – a fancier version of a Zombie (another cocktail where this would play well). The Undead Gentleman features absinthe, lime juice, grapefruit juice, cinnamon syrup, Velvet Falernum, black blended overproof rum, blended aged rum, and Angostura bitters. It’s shaken and served up.
The Undead Gentleman
The play of the two rums is strong – and the lime interacts well with the grapefruit and cinnamon. All the elements are very forthright on the nose – and make for an alluring smell. The flavor on the palate is slightly hot – but not excessively so. A gentle sweetness and the funk of both rums combine with the cinnamon and lime, and a hint of falernum to give you a tropical trip that you feel relatively quickly. If you happen to be lacking absinthe (or don’t like it) omitting it won’t be the end of the world – simply enjoy it anyways.
In general, it’s a solid drink.
The Final Word – Plantation O.F.T.D. Rum
Plantation O.F.T.D Rum is no sipper, but it’s a wonderful addition to tropical cocktails. The subtle sweetness and amazing flavors of molasses, caramel, and brown sugar with preserved fruits add depth and dimension to drinks. The price is also relatively good at only $30. This would be recommended bottle for our bar and yours.
Cocktails Involving O.F.T.D
Other’s Share Their Thoughts On Plantation O.F.T.D Rum
- The Fat Rum Pirate does a fantastic job summing up this rum as a mixing rum and giving some history
- Cocktail Wonk got the full tour apparently – and shows off the behind the scenes at Plantation
Raw Tasting Notes:
“It like evaporates in your mouth!” – It does. /Ron Howard
Ann Marie:
Nose: Coffee and orange – dark spice blend can’t tell if it’s cinnamon, all-spice, cloves – Not quite molasses but a darkened caramel. A candied pecan nuttiness, but not sweet.
Taste: Orange and allspice, clove and baking spices. Coffee hints as well. The finish is powerful – but there’s a lingering aftertaste of toasted dark brown sugar and orange. Like a hint of orange.
Nick
Nose: Molasses – Caramel – Cloves – Hints of Jammy orange like marmalade. Demerara sugar and brown sugar come to play.
Taste: Obviously warm – but also extremely smooth. Raisins and dates and other preserved fruits play with molasses, creamy caramel, and dark brown sugar. Hints of mellow oak and vanilla come through as well. The ending is full of dark sugar, toasted oak, spice, and caramel.
I would not recommend holding this in your mouth – it burns.