Plantation Overproof O.F.T.D.

I’m new at rum tasting, so please forgive me for being so shallow. I’ve tried a few rums until now and it’s usually the same commercial stuff: Appleton Estate V/X, Saint James Rhum Agricole, Brugal Ron Anejo, Barcelo Anejo, Abuelo Anejo, Havana Club 7, Bacardi 8... Nothing gets close to Plantation O.F.T.D.

At first, I’d say that it’s not so much for rookies. You have to know a bit about alcohol to be able to enjoy sipping it as is. Whether you come from a whisky, a cognac or a vodka tasting background, this one is nice to have to start with. It has obvious flavors. Obviously, you’ll find the molasses deeply rooted in the liquid. You’ll also find some caramel, some burnt sugar, some dried fruit and maybe some hints of fruit jam.

Some will mix it. Personally, I already have enough of other brands to mix cocktails. This one will remain well hidden behind bottles which are easier to get. I’ll save this liquid for cigar nights. Maybe I’ll add a few drops of water to mellow a bit the taste and find other hidden flavors.

I had the chance to try stuff as Zaya 12 and Zacapa Centenario 23. I can tell you that, even if I’ll have as much fun sipping all of those, I won’t get the same kind of pleasure. While the first two are mellow and easy drinking, full of delicate flavors, the Plantation O.F.T.D. 69 goes straight to the point with no tenderness. If you can hardly handle 40%, don’t go for it. If you can easily handle 40%, you’re good to try something new and you can find it, go for it.

Over here, it’s CAN$40.25 (about US$30.35). According to me (and I will remind you that I’m a rookie), this rhum is worth every penny.

Mixer rum or a great sipper, use a bit of water though when you sip it neat due to it's alcohol level. Nose: raisins, pineapple vanilla. Palate: Arrak, lemon, coconutmilk, figs and dark chocolate.

Little funk, overproof, and value. My only complaint is i find myself want to drink this one neat (i have tried much to my throat's dismay). This one is fun to play around with in cocktails. Its potent enough to do the trick, but has an excellent funky flavor that can enhance your cocktail in more ways than just strength. If you find a bottle, buy it.

I had been told this was one of the better rums out there, so I grabbed a bottle. It is a good pour - a lot of heat that melts away into tobacco and molasses with a hint of a sweet finish that has a lingering spice to it.

I would not say it is one of the best rums I have had, but it is a very good pour that I will definitely pick up on occasion. Does not drink like an overproof, and I found it best after letting it air out for a few minutes.

Burnt sugar, molasses and pure spirit.
That is all but not enough for great rum.

So smooth for being overproof. It has a great funk. Love this in cocktails. It also has a great story behind it. If you're into Tiki drinks this is a must have.

Beautiful dark amber color. This very round and hot rum with aromas of dried fruit and vanilla is a superb blend created by experts in rum for bartenders for the creation of exotic cocktails. This version at 69% is a beautiful success. If you search for the definition of this acronym O.F.T.D, look at some comments below ;-)

What happens when you take seven rum experts (Jeff "Beachbum" Berry, Martin Cate, Alexandre Gabriel, Paul McFadyen, Paul McGee, Scotty Schuder, and David Wondrich), put them in the same room, grant them access to everything Plantation has available, and ask them to re-invent their Original Dark Overproof? As the legend goes, upon tasting a near-final blend, Wondrich exclaimed, "Oh f***, that's delicious!"—to which the others readily assented. Wanting that to be the name (remember, it had been a long day of rum tasting) but realizing it probably wouldn't fly, they borrowed the acronym and re-applied it to the somewhat redundant "Old Fashioned Traditional Dark".

Fortunately, it's all of those things—old-fashioned, dark, delicious... The nose bursts forth with strong, sweet, creamy butterscotch and brown sugar. (I usually dislike butterscotch, but it's just perfect here.) There's also a hint of baking spices. It hits your tongue at full force, with a pleasant burn.

Most of the rum in this blend hails from Guyana, but is expertly complemented by funky Jamaican and rich pot-still Bajan rums (unlike the Original Dark Overproof, which was Trinidadian). With its great complexity, sweetness, and high-octane kick, OFTD is just begging to be shaken or blended into something tasty. Try subbing it in for recipes that call for overproof, navy-style, or Jamaican rums; you may encounter—as the creators of this masterful blend did—something unexpected and wonderful.

True to Plantation form, the bottle is elegantly presented, with heaps of enjoyable literature adorning the label. (Kudos to Plantation's marketing and design team!)

What amazes me is the value at which Plantation has brought this to market—~$30 for a liter of high-quality, 138-proof booze? What are they drinking?! (Oh, yeah...) Here's to hoping they keep this accessible as a bar mixer for the masses. Like Stiggin's Fancy, I do see this as becoming a mainstay of the Plantation lineup for years to come.

Interesting, but not a sipper at least to me. In my inexperience I bought this for the wrong reasons. On the other hand it didn’t work great for me in Cuba Libre nor in DarknStormy. As a sipper it is too spicy to me and has too much burn, no matter how much water I add. I am sure if I would know the cocktail it should go into it would be great.

Classic Plantation bottle, very nice. Strong alcohol scent after opening. What did I expect, it is 69%. However, the taste is really smooth for such a strong spirit. It surprised me.
It is little bit sweet on the nose but alcohol covers it mostly. Taste is really good, sugar cane, oak and the surprise No. 2, it is very similar to Myers's Original Dark. Like Myers's stronger older brother. Really good sipper. Must be good in mixed drinks too, but I'd prefer it neat. Excellent. Of course, there are more sophisticated rums but this one is the rum.