Plantation Fiji Islands - Single Cask Marsala Wine Cask

This is the post-tasting of the Plantation Masterclass I missed. This is now the 7th rum from it and I've reached the point where I can hardly detect any differences between the Spanish-style rums I've tasted. Again, I can taste coconut and detect only moderately well-integrated alcohol.

Masterclass with Alexandre Gabriel on 04.04.2024. Plantation becomes Planteray. A positive surprise for me at this tasting. Not 100% what I imagine a typical Fiji to be, but still a success.

Nice and fruity on the nose but also alcoholic. Also slightly alcoholic on the palate and reminds me of Central American-style rums. The finish is quite short and is also more in the Zacapa style. Average rum and not necessarily recognizable as Fiji.

Very tart, a lot of barrel. But an interesting rum. There's not much left of the Fiji profile due to the finish. Would have blindly guessed a Panama from Ron del Artesano, they also like to have such a barrel influence.

I struggled with this single cask from Fiji from the very first moment. In my opinion, the Fiji rum doesn't harmonize very well with the Marsala cask at first. Somehow it's more of a juxtaposition, with the wine having the clear predominance. If you play a little with the rum on the palate, the Fiji influence becomes stronger.

I think that the original character from Fiji has been completely lost here. The ageing dominates and brings harmonious facets such as fruit, spice and wood, but the rum base for such ageing is probably interchangeable.

Smooth and sweet, without completely dispensing with appealing aromas. Fruits, spices and wood are all recognizable, but clearly take second place to the rather present sweetness. A good rum, Fiji for beginners.

Netter Fidschi wenn auch etwas eindimensional.

Fidji notes in the nose. Intense with glue and some wood. Wine notes are noticeable, but only add some complexity. On the palate the Marsala for me is to present and overwhelming unfortunately. Thanks to Alexandre and the RumX Team for the masterclass!

#4685 04.04.2024 Online tasting wit RumX and Plantaray. Nose Sweet, fruity, light earthy, light glue, floral, light nutts, faint mint. Palate Wood, warm, tannins, fruity, dried fruit, light marzipan, spice, Finish Long, wood, tannins, orange, light chocolate, light marzipan, spice. The empty glass has a light smoky note as well as some dried fruit.

RumX masterclass Planteray, 4.4.24, live with Alexandre Gabriel. Night tasting. Nose: dry and alcoholic at the start. Over time, sweet and sour fruits are added. Passion fruit, redcurrant and lime. There is also vanilla and some cocoa. Atypical for Fiji. 7,2 Palate: strong and thin at the same time, which is why it needs the 51%. Spicy, salty, dry, slightly acidic. Somewhat nutty and very slightly licorice. Still atypical for Fiji and therefore does not meet my expectations. 7,0

A bit weak on the nose, some light fruits, nuts & unexpected alcohol showing up. On the palate you get light spices, esters, bright fruits, white pepper. Wine influence is there, but only on the backend. Not overpowering. Right level of abv. Medium long finish on white peppers. //update: after some time in the glass it gets very smoky

Planteray/Plantation RumX Online Masterclass: A little restrained on the nose, light citrus aromas and glue. Sweeter than expected on the palate but dry at the same time. Dark chocolate, some burnt rubber and wood and coffee, then the Marsala finish which adds a lot of raisin, which is only too "light" aromatically for a Fiji rum, but nevertheless no missing notes and relatively round. But could do with more complexity... I would have preferred this rum without a finish!

Again, not noting ABV and finish with this sample, only brand and source. Impressions: not exceptional, but not bad. The nose gives some Cognac vibes, which I find in the ending. I suppose the wine mingled with the higher ABV a bit. It is also sweet, and has a hint of Hogo, but only very little, just enough to notice. The body has also a certain wood influence I like, and the mixture is quite tasty. If it just wasn't as sweet...

Am Anfang trocken und alkoholisch, süß und leicht Noten von Wein. Gaumen kräftig und dünn zugleich. Etwas nussig und holzig, untypisch für Fiji, kenne ich normal etwas kräftiger und intensiver. Ist ok aber nix was man unbedingt braucht.