Plantation Rum releases new overproof rum

Maison Ferrand proprietor and Plantation Rum master blender, Alexandre Gabriel is releasing a new Plantation Rum.

Plantation Rum arranged a team of experts to create the new Plantation OFTD (Old Fashioned Traditional Dark) overproof rum.

It is a blend of rums from Guyana, Jamaica and Barbados, offered at an overproof 69% ABV. The rum is tailored for cocktails and punches.

Started at a secret-meeting in New Orleans in 2015, Plantation gathered seven 'rum-geeks'; Plantation's Alexandre Gabriel, Jeff Berry, Martin Cate, Paul McFadyen, Paul McGee, Scotty Schuder and David Wondrich.

David Wondrich is a spirits and cocktail historian and long-time friend of Alexandre Gabriel (David has also advised on Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula Cognac, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao and Plantation Pineapple Rum). Jeff Berry is proprietor of Latitude 29 in New Orleans; Martin Cate is proprietor of Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco; Paul McFadyen is proprietor of Trailer Happiness in London; Paul McGee is proprietor of Lost Lake in Chicago; and Scotty Schuder is proprietor of Dirty Dick in Paris.

The secret meeting took hours as the group tasted numerous historical overproof rums and research samples. Alexandre took these notes back to his ‘laboratory’ in Bonbonnet, Cognac the Maison Ferrand estate, where he created several barrel samples.

The culmination of their work happened when Alexandre invited his six friends to the Chateau de Bonbonnet in December 2015. There, they gathered and tasted the samples they had talked about and envisioned. They tasted through not only the barrel samples Alexandre created but compared them to the historic overproof rums. Then they tasted 'the one.' And all unanimously agreed on the final version that is today Plantation OFTD overproof rum.

Alexandre says: “At Maison Ferrand, I often feel that we are a team of misfits having fun. With the OFTD band of rum geeks, I felt at home. I will never forget the special moments we had creating this rum: the secret meeting at Arnaud’s, the week in Cognac, the many samples tasted and the discussions about the true nature of overproof rum spoken with the same gravitas and intensity of statesmen discussing peace treaties. And all the time we were having a ball! These special moments of communion with a talented and passionate team are the reason I love my job. These guys are my rum brothers for life.”

Plantation OFTD overproof rum is bottled at 69% ABV (138 proof) and available from this month in the UK with an RRP of US$31.99/1L.

12 November 2016 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, editorial assistant