The FERRAND house has maintained good relationships for many years with the best distilleries in the Caribbean, which in the past purchased our used FERRAND barrels. The rum was refined in these barrels. Through this collaboration, Alexandre Gabriel had the opportunity to discover various old distillates with an impressive variety of aromas. He liked the qualities so much that he decided to bring these exceptional rums to the market. The PLANTATION series was born.
Each rum is produced according to the traditional methods of its country of origin, allowing it to impressively express the full potential of its homeland. The distillation methods vary depending on the plantation and country of origin. "Copper pot stills," which have been used for more than 700 years, produce soft, aromatic rums. "Column stills," invented in the early 19th century, create light, elegant rums. Molasses or sugarcane juice are distilled in small distilleries, and the distillate is then transferred into oak barrels, which usually previously held bourbon; a process that gives the spirits their distinctive character. In the Caribbean climate, the rums can fully and intensely develop their aromas during the multi-year aging in old cellars warmed by the tropical sun. About 7% naturally evaporates annually through the oak wood. An important process that accelerates aging and supports the perfect development of subtle, exotic aromas and flavor nuances.
Alexandre Gabriel selects impressive ready-to-drink qualities from various distilleries on site. These are then shipped to France/Cognac as cask goods with their natural alcohol content. This preserves the full aroma. During the sea voyage from the Caribbean to France, the rums undergo a "dynamic ageing process" in the bourbon barrels. Our cellar master then ages the spirits for several more months, sometimes even years, in our small used FERRAND barrels or, for example, in port, marsala, sauternes, or calvados barrels to give them even more elegance, finesse, and character. This old method, called "Double Ageing," produces outstanding rums. The aging technique, which was already used in the 18th and 19th centuries, was hardly used at all in recent decades – but it has been revived for some time now. Our cellar master, who can draw on the experience of several generations regarding aging in wooden barrels, perfects the various rum varieties into exceptional products. Before bottling, the PLANTATION rums are usually reduced to a standard alcohol content between 40% vol. and 56% vol. Our range primarily includes vintage rums, including limited editions of small batches or rare bottlings; but also a few varieties that are exceptionally well suited for cocktail mixing. Our rums repeatedly receive high awards at international competitions.
