Planteray PXXO

ABV: 40%

Country: Barbados

Age: Blend

Cask: ex-bourbon American oak, ex-cognac (Maison Ferrand) and Pedro Ximénez sherry

Still: Blend

Price: £49.50

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Planteray PXXO is a rum I really came to love at Manchester Rum Fest, and it’s one I often struggle not to reach for when I want something rich and indulgent without much effort. I’ve described this to people more than once as an old-fashioned in a bottle… pour a generous measure into a glass and that’s genuinely all you need. It’s a style that leans heavily into depth and sweetness, but does so in a way that still feels deliberate and well put together.

PXXO sits within Planteray’s more experimental end of the range and takes its name from the Pedro Ximénez casks used for finishing. The rum itself is a blend of long-aged stocks from Barbados and Jamaica, brought together and finished in heavily seasoned PX sherry casks to add that unmistakable richness. Like much of the Planteray lineup, it’s designed around cask influence and blending rather than purity of origin, making it a good example of how finishing can be used as a feature rather than an afterthought.

Nose

In contrast to what I typically expect from a PX cask this has a rather bright profile with some tart astringency. Plenty of warm, dry and nutty notes develop alongside damp wood and dried fruits with some vanilla cutting through.

Palate

This is very gentle and really coats my whole mouth. A very complex profile that is balanced exceptionally well with Piedmont hazelnut, coconut flesh, vanilla essence, tart (yet sweet) red fruit with dusty dark chocolate. There’s a pleasant wood influence offering depth and spice with no pepper. Lurking underneath the influence of the casks this does still feel like your typical rum from Barbados whilst really standing apart from the usual.

7/10 – the profile on this is enjoyable and well balanced; a little lower ABV than I’d like but treating this as an “old-fashioned in a bottle” I’m very happy to enjoy a glass with friends.