Maison Ferrand Plantation Extrême N°3 1996
Maison Ferrand Plantation Extrême N°3 1996, 22 YO, 56.2 %
A fine, old rum with a cognac twist is under review today. The Maison Ferrand Plantation Extrême N°3 1996 was produced by Long Pond Distillery in Jamaica, and then matured in ex-bourbon casks on Jamaica for 21 years. The rum was then transported to France and the cognac house Maison Ferrand, who finished the rum for an additional year in their own French oak ex-cognac casks.
The Maison Ferrand Plantation Extrême N°3 1996 was distilled in 1996, and bottled in August 2018. This is a limited release of 2121 bottles.
I have previously commented that Jamaican rums in general are high in esters. The level of esters in this release is given as 345.
I recently came across this informative quote on esters in Jamaican rums on The Whisky Chronicles:
Since the 17th century, Jamaican rum has stood out for its heavy, powerful style. This comes from slow, spontaneous fermentation in wooden vats, with the addition of dunder, a little fresh cane juice and all sorts of fruits. [..] Each rum was named according to the level of esters per hectolitre of pure alcohol. Categories common across all Jamaican rums were then created: Common Cleans (80-150 esters), Plummers (150-200 esters), Wedderburns (200-500 esters) and Continental Flavours/High Esters (500-700 esters).
You can pick up a bottle of Maison Ferrand Plantation Extrême N°3 1996 in Norway this Friday at NOK 2252 (11057801).
Nose: Delicate and not all that funky on first approach. Light aromas of dried fruits, caramel, brown sugar and vanilla. With time molasses and gradually more funkiness - in a very good way. Hints of oak.
Taste: Rich, flavourful and full-bodied. Fruity as the nose. A tempered funkiness here as well. More oaky than expected. Polish, leather and some perfumy notes. Tending towards astringent.
Finish: Long finish. Relaxes, calms down, appears sweeter towards the end.
Comment: Love the nose on this rum. I would hav preferred a little less oak influence on the palate, bit it is a great rum.
Score 89/100
Slaínte!
- Thomas
