Rum is not a spirit on the contrary, it is a bottled history of time, fate, and labor, which awaits to be told with every sip. Planteray Jamaica 1984 and Chairman’s Reserve: The Forgotten Casks are liquid myths, each being the product of decades of diligent aging and lucky finding. These rums persuade you to try history, where with every note, years weigh and magic infuse.
From the sun-kissed distilleries of Jamaica to St. Lucia’s out-of-the-way corners, these rums are the product of time’s magic. Their travels carefully mapped or wonderfully by chance highlight rum’s ability to surprise and enchant. Take a journey with us through six chapters of their tales, discovering the craftsmanship that makes them legendary.
These rums are not for down-the-gullet shots; they require slow sipping, much as one would listen to a fireside story of a bygone age. Each glass contains a chunk of the past, carefully crafted by skilled hands and the quiet knowledge of barrels. Let us explore the realm of rare rums, where time matures spirits into treasures that sit on the palate and in the heart.
1. The Epic Journey of Planteray Jamaica 1984
Planteray Jamaica 1984 is a rum that bided it’s time for 40 years, waiting to tell its remarkable tale. Distilled at Jamaica’s venerable Clarendon Distillery in Lionel Town, it aged for 35 years under the Caribbean sun’s unforgiving burn. This sun-kissed aging imbued it with rich, intense flavors that beat with the island’s heart.
The journey resumed over the Atlantic, where the rum was redcased into Ferrand Cognac barrels in France for another five years. Double aging, a hallmark of Planteray’s new method, mellowed its strength with refined tannins. The outcome is sophisticated fusion of espresso, dark chocolate, and leather, supported by refined sweetness.
- Tropical Roots: Jamaica’s warmth shaped an assertive, island-hewn personality.
- French Elegance: Cognac barrels lent nuance and sophistication.
- Rare Gem: With only 317 bottles, this is every collector’s dream.
This rum is a testament to vision and patience, a liquid work of art that changes with each sip. It’s a drink, but not just any drink a journey through decades and continents, with you as invited passenger. Pour a glass and let its history seep into you slowly, as if you were reminiscing about a treasured memory.
2. A Serendipitous Find: Chairman’s Reserve Forgotten Casks
Chairman’s Reserve: The Forgotten Casks emerged out of disorganization, not meticulous planning. During a 2007 fire that devastated St. Lucia Distillers, the staff was compelled to stash barrels in closets, crawl spaces, and under desks. Forgotten casks rested untouched until they were rediscovered years later.
When found, the rum had transformed into a “fine diva” with astonishing depth and complexity. The unconventional storage, combined with time, worked a miracle, creating flavors that set it apart from standard releases. This happy accident became a celebrated offering, proving brilliance can hide in the most unexpected places.
The Forgotten Casks is a tale of resiliency and serendipity, bottled up for those who appreciate the unexpected. Every sip brings back the drama of that burning night and the quiet victory of rediscovery. It’s a rum that reminds us that beauty can be found in adversity, awaiting its day to be enjoyed.
3. The Art of Double Aging: Planteray’s Masterstroke
Planteray Jamaica 1984’s double age is a lesson in rum mastery. Its 35 years in Jamaica’s hot climate laid the aggressive foundation of desiccated cherry, toasted fruit leather, and varnish richness. This intensity of the tropics paved the way for its incredible metamorphosis.
In France, five years in Ferrand Cognac barrels added a layer of refinement, taming the rum’s fiery edge with subtle tannins. Master Blender Alexandre Gabriel’s vision ensured a balance that’s both powerful and elegant. The result is a spirit that sings with complexity, from dark chocolate to soft spice.
- Tropical Intensity: Jamaica’s climate forged vibrant, robust flavors.
- Continental Balance: French aging rounded out the profile with finesse.
- Artisan Vision: Gabriel’s skill wove a symphony of harmony.
This style demonstrates rum’s versatility to change over the course of decades, combining strength with elegance. New flavors are unveiled with every sip, and you’ll want to savor and experience its depth. Planteray’s double aging sets new standards for what is possible in rare rum, establishing a new benchmark for craftsmanship.
4. The Flavor Symphony of Rare Rums
Planteray Jamaica 1984 is a tasting odyssey, full-bodied and intellectually stimulating. Its cask-strength power (57.2% ABV) presents espresso, dark chocolate, and leather, mellowing with water to unlock dried cherry and raisin chocolate bread. The aftertaste persists with charcoal-roasted fruit leather, a reflection of its 40-year voyage.
Chairman’s Reserve: The Forgotten Casks impresses with its deep mahogany color and scents of raisin sweetness and cigar smoke. In the mouth, it has griddled tropical fruit, candied walnut, and gentle spices that envelop the tongue in comfort. It’s very long, harmonious finish encourages reflection, requesting a second sip.
Both rums require patience to reveal their entire magic, unfurling in the glass like a tale in progress. They are not beverages they are experiences in time, space, and taste. Enjoy them neat or iced to find out their elaborate stories, sip by sublime sip.
5. Packaging as Art: Planteray’s Bespoke Presentation
Planteray Jamaica 1984’s packaging is as remarkable as the rum itself, designed to honor its 40-year odyssey. Each of the 317 numbered bottles is housed in a bespoke wooden box, a nod to its heritage and craftsmanship. A certificate signed by Alexandre Gabriel adds a personal, intimate touch.
The stopper is a work of sustainable artistry, made from retired Planteray barrels. Its foundation, constructed from steam-straightened staves, is topped by a hand-engraved medallion from the original Jamaican cask. Each 10-hour medallion makes each bottle a distinct collector’s item.
- Luxury Craft: Wooden boxes capture the exclusivity and heritage of the rum.
- Eco-Artistry: Stoppers recycle old barrels with impressive detail.
- Unique Touch: Hand-engraved medallions make each bottle one-of-a-kind.
This packaging is not just a box it’s a story of history and innovation. It encourages you to cradle a piece of the rum’s history before savoring its magic. Planteray’s dedication to detail makes each bottle a work of art.
6. The Legacy of Rediscovered Rums
Planteray Jamaica 1984 and Chairman’s Reserve: The Forgotten Casks demonstrate how time and circumstance can produce liquid legends. Planteray’s deliberate double aging is the antithesis of Chairman’s Reserve’s inadvertent genius, but both are comparable to the best whiskies and cognacs. They confirm rum’s potential as a straight-up sipping spirit.
These tales encourage distilleries to hold on to old stocks and take risks. Forgotten barrels or daring experiments can bring forth treasures that redefine the art form. This movement raises rum’s stature, challenging enthusiasts to venture into its depth and diversity.
To collectors and connoisseurs, these rums are cultural relics, each taste a remembrance of the past. They recall that the greatest treasures tend to lie in wait patiently to be discovered. As rum takes its rightful place among luxury spirits, these bottles chronicle an exercise of artistry, patience, and eternal discovery.
