Planteray Hogo Monsta Barbados Extra High Ester Rum 20 cl. 56,6%

They call it “the blender’s secret weapon.” And no, we’re not talking about your Vitamix, but about the master blender at the West Indies Rum Distillery. You know – the person who selects and combines the right barrels when it’s time to bottle a rum. It’s rare that a single cask is bottled as is – most rums are a blend of several casks – 2, 5, or maybe 25 different ones – to achieve the perfect flavour balance.

There are so many factors that shape a rum’s character: age, cask, fermentation… Plantation Hogo Monsta should be seen as a kind of concentrate – a rum pushed to the extreme through an extra-long fermentation. It can be added in small amounts to bring complexity, depth, and intensity, but it’s not really meant to be drunk neat. Ha! That’s never stopped a true rum geek. For them, “secret” bottlings like this are endlessly fascinating to taste. But it’s not the kind of thing you pour for the neighbour who drops by for a drink. You’ve been warned.

Colour: Amber.
Nose: Packed with overripe tropical fruit – pineapple, banana, and mango. Of course, plenty of varnish, acetone, and warm spices too.
Palate: Not quite as wild as the nose, but still far from gentle. Relatively light and ethereal mouthfeel, with strong notes of exotic fruit, varnish, and salt.

Serving suggestion: Try a few drops in a Mai Tai!