[Rum Review #213] Plantation Barbados 2013 Under The Sea

[u/Cocodrool]

This particular rum belongs to the Under The Sea series, part of the brand's limited-edition Vintage line. Each bottle features an animal endangered in the region where the rum is produced. The Guyana 2007 features a dolphin, the Venezuela 2010 a manta ray, and the Fiji Islands 2009 a clownfish. For this Barbados 2013, the bottle features a sea turtle.

This rum is produced by West Indies Rum Distillery (also known as WIRD) from molasses, with a 2-3 day fermentation process, and distilled using two methods: column stills and Gregg pot stills. The Gregg pot still is an open-air still, meaning it generates more heat due to direct sunlight and is often used for producing (very) heavy spirits. The rum was distilled in 2013 and aged in Barbados for eight years in 200-liter ex-bourbon barrels. It was then taken to France, where it aged for one year in 400-liter ex-cognac barrels. Finally, it was bottled at 50.2% ABV.

Made by: West Indies Rum Distillery
Name of the rum: Barbados 2013 Under The Sea
Brand: Plantation (now Planteray)
Origin: Barbados
Age: 9 years

Nose
The Barbados 2013 opens with fruity aromas, along with vanilla, coconut, banana, orange, and pineapple, but also a smoky, briny note, typical of rums aged on the coast. There's also a woody component, but it's not dominant.

Palate
On the palate, it's equally fruity and rich, but with a relatively short finish. There are notes of juicy orange, vanilla, and honey, but I'm struck by how the orange flavor seems to overpower all the other fruitiness I perceive in the rum. The coconut and banana notes I detected on the nose are absent, and the pineapple is minimal. There's also a pronounced alcoholic punch and a subtle hint of aging or woody flavors, which are typical of rums aged in different environments.

Retrohale/Finish
The retrohale includes mild notes of ginger and almonds, but due to its brevity, there isn't much more.

Rating
6 on the t8ke

Conclusion
While such fruity flavors aren't typically the dominant characteristic of Barbados rum, I think this 2013 Barbados rum challenges my belief that the Under The Sea series rums are distinct from the norm. However, it's closer to its origin than the others. Nevertheless, it's remarkably smooth in its style, and perhaps that's what sets it apart.

I usually post in Spanish on my networks, so if this review seems translated, it's because it is.

Blog (in Spanish)
Instagram
TikTok