Aroma visualization from community tastings
West Indies Plantation Grande Réserve
Anyone starting out with Barbados rum, or after an easy after-work pour, will get on with this. Vanilla, ripe banana, coconut and dried fruit, all wrapped in obvious sweetness. Most people find the nose more interesting than the palate, which turns simple and sweet fast. A young rum that's light on its feet and, as one Swede put it, "good light and fresh."
The community says- Soft and easy
- Banana and vanilla
- But: Contains added sugar
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The look inside the bottle
How does West Indies Plantation Grande Réserve taste?
Aggregated from 404 community reviews.
Sweet, easy Barbados entry sipper Most tasters land on pleasant but simple: soft vanilla-banana sweetness, easy to drink, short finish. The recurring gripe is too much sugar and a young alcohol edge that thins it out.
Beginners and fans of sweet, soft, easy-drinking rum
Anyone avoiding sugar or wanting dry, complex Barbados rum
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
98 of 404 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Recommendation
Your next rum
One difference each to this rum.
Rated better
West Indies Planteray Extra Old XO 20th Anniversary
7.9/1040 €
More intense
West Indies Plantation Extreme No. 5 2000
8.3/10First choice: 210 of 253 tasters who tried both prefer it.
How is West Indies Plantation Grande Réserve rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 7.0 sits in the “Good” band. 36% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 6% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Community voices
What does the community say?
77% rate it between 6 and 8. 47 selected write-ups from 404 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
One of the community's most-rated rums
Review by Gregor
Nice solid rum. Im. Smell really exciting with nice coconut tones and caramel and vanilla. In the taste then also quite komex for this price. Unfortunately it is slightly burning. A little more ageing in the cask would help here. In any case, the price-performance ratio is very fair and I therefore recommend trying it
Review by epicsune 🇸🇪
Most helpful positive review
Very sweet aromas of dried fruits, marzipan and arrak. The taste does not dissapoint! Incredible round and sweet at first and then the taste of spices after a few seconds. Very pleasant taste that makes this an excellent sipping rum and one That I frequently reccomends. (Easy to find here in Sweden and at €27 it is a bargain)
Review by DomM
Most helpful critical review
Somewhat works with coke and lime. However even for that application you can find loads of better rum. Not recommended.
Review by Stefan Persson
Better than expected! Good value for money!
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
Typical Barbadian in nose and palate. A very young rum so don't expect too much from it. A pleasant nose and ok semi complex fruity palate with a finish that ends almost before it begins. Price to quality is very good.
Review by Leo Krüper
Used as a light mixer in Pina Colada and Cuba Libre. Super suitable for this, reasonable in price and well available.
Review by Beancheese
This is a very simple and basic rum which is fairly heavily dosed at 20g/l. It’s very light and mild, too simple for sipping but makes for a solid mixer at reasonable value. A tick below the 5 year version in terms of quality and value.
Review by Tim
The nose of this rum is a round but thin mix of tropical fruit, honey and vanilla. Biting alcohol note also resonates. In the mouth you can taste the sweetness clearly, in the finish the sharp alcohol note can no longer be covered. In addition, something unusual (chemical or floral). Still, honey / syrup and some fruit remains above all.
Review by TheRhumhoe
A simplistic rum, with a sweet, caramelized nose, marked by Barbabde and its famous coconut, banana and gently spicy, vanilla scents. It's rather sweet, but lacks intensity and depth. The taste is relatively similar, unsurprisingly with notes of banana, caramel, coconut, dried fruit, sweet spices and chocolate. The woodiness is quite youthful, but the sweetness outweighs the rest. Clearly a light, syrupy rum. The finish is short, with sweet, caramelized notes reminiscent of crème brûlée. Vanilla and pepper finish an easy-drinking, approachable rum. A standard-range rum, at the right price, which could work in a pinch for flavoring crêpes.
Review by Lutz Lungershausen
24 Days of Rum 2024 - Black Edition - Day 02 Erster Eindruck: leichte fruchtige Aromen, Mandel, angenehm Nase: Banane, tropische Früchte, sehr angenehm und leicht Gaumen: Holz, Vanille, scharf Abgang: Fass, langanhaltend Gesamteindruck: durchschnittlich, die Nase gefällt mir deutlich besser als der Gaumen
Review by Martin Ekrt
Po 3 letech opět ochutnávám kus z 24DoR. Ve vůni docela zaujmou citrusy, nějaké bonbóny a kandované ovoce. Chuť zase citrusy, zázvorky, snad eukalyptový bonbón. Závěr grepfrujtový, koření, trochu pepř. Sladkost je tam dobře integrovaná, že s tím vůbec nemám problém.
Review by Miňo
Na vekové zloženie veľmi chutný rum.
Review by Patrik Onderka
This one was just a funny tasting on Frontkon (software dev conf in Prague). Great idea how to attract visitors and then darts match. Back to this guy, pleasant is the word here, Barbados vibes, not bad not special or outstanding.
Review by RockingSheep
Very smooth, sharp finish
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
solider Barbados Mixer.
Review by Werner10
It's ok for what it costs but also nothing special.
Review by Dirk E.
not quite my cup of tea
Review by Jan Králík
I have to say that this rum did not impress me much. I taste a lot of honey and peaches. For the price, it's probably ok, but I'd rather use it in a mixed drink.
Review by Eddie Gil
lovely soft
Review by Malte
Very nice rum to enjoy, not too heavy. Beginners and advanced drinkers alike will enjoy it.
Review by Schnapsschuesse
I had always wondered why Plantation has two 'so similar' bottlings in the standard range, this one and the Barbados 5. A direct comparison of the two explains it. This one is much fresher on the nose, crisper but also sharper. Goes a bit in the direction of Arrack, much fresher fruit. The taste is also somewhat edgier. Less wood, more green. The crisp, white arrack note in particular makes it stand out in this segment. Unfortunately also noticeably sweetened. A little less would definitely have been possible (or not possible) here.
Review by Tola76
Im Geruch zeigt sich eine angenehme Süße mit reifen Noten, die von einem sanften Hauch Zimt begleitet werden. Am Gaumen wirkt der Rum süß und recht unkompliziert, geprägt von reifer Banane. Im weiteren Verlauf entwickelt sich ein leicht würziger Eindruck, der schließlich in einen lakritzartigen Abgang übergeht. Insgesamt ein einfacher, aber charaktervoller Rum mit klar erkennbaren Aromen.
Review by Arjan91
Nice rum at a good price. First Plantation, but not my last. Curious about the XO.
Review by Fauco
It’s drinkable but nothing more than that unfortunately. E: After trying it again I realise I was a bit too harsh in my first review. Would say it’s pleasant rather than just drinkable, but that’s about it. It’s clean and simple.
Review by Anubis_CZ
Second rum from calendar 1423. Classic plantation. They Dont make bad rums :). Nice at nosing, pleasure at Taste. Can have Linger Finish,but i think that Is good rum. Not great not poor. Completely Sweet in nose And Taste
Review by Stan Hardy
Im Cocktail nicht schlecht, aber es gibt bessere in dieser Preisklasse
Review by Portman
Not bad, but not really great either. Very sweet, not complex enough, and nothing to revel in, neither on the nose nor on the palate. An absolute entry-level product with no unique selling point, but quite good for the price.
Review by X-Savior
On The Rocks: On the nose there is clear fruity and floral notes, no real hint of spice that you would expect from a Barbados rum. Taste continues with a pleasing fruit and floral notes and a slight spice starts to develop. Overall it is a very pleasant entry level sipper without the heavier spices you normally get. Finish is medium with continued general fruit and floral notes. Mixed Pepsi Zero: On the nose very mild fruit and floral notes. Taste is more molasses and fruit with slight oak. Not very sweet, even a little bitter. Not as enjoyable mixed, better as a sipper.
Review by Zboubinho913
Good rum very flavoured. Not my type considering the sweet taste but nevertheless excellent neat or mixed with juice (maracuja, tropical mix...) It is an excellent choice if you don't have enough money to buy Plantation X O 20 anniversary. Maybe I have the same palate as a Dobermann but of you hide my eyes I won't identify which one is grande reserve and which one is X O anniversary. And considering that Grande Reserve is 2 times cheaper...
Review by Henning
More expressive on the nose than on the palate. Fruity aromas of sweet banana with a very distinct vanilla note. Very round and pleasing, almost ingratiating. Very round on the palate, nothing really expressive or particularly emphasized. A little bit of everything, but pleasant and easy to drink. Probably a good entry-level rum with a slight wood emphasis.
Review by faust klément
Under the azure skies of Barbados, Plantation Rum blossoms, Liquid amber with sweet notes, Elixir of ripe cane. In the tropics, the sun sets it ablaze, exquisite spices and honey, In every drop, the island reveals itself, The treasure of Caribbean lands.
Review by Kryštof
Pretty good. Fair price for a little above average tropcial, sweet rum. It has character and a surprising kick to it whilst still being very sweet. The bottle is well designed and flashy, I can imagine it being a nice middle price-range gift.
Review by Plantation_Lover
It’s a pretty cheap rum with a great taste especially for the price it’s not my favorite but I would definitely recommend it
Review by Mathieu Visiere
Soft and sweet on the nose, a slightly too alcoholic taste when tasting but not unpleasant. On the other hand, the finish is very short and there is just a taste of alcohol in the background, which is a shame. Still nice to taste and good value for money!
Review by Lugowsky
Lättdrucken och lätt, bra nybörjarrom. Söt doft med inslag av frukt. Smak rund och välbalanserad med en touch av russin. Tråkig efterton, karamell och kryddor, tydlig alkoholeftersmak.
Review by Thom
What a heavier rum with a sharp edge. If you like very smooth rum, I would not recommend this one.
Review by Michael Janek
3.5 2024 ve vůni slabě citrusy, vanilka chuť jemná, citrusově nasladla,
Review by Kamil Křenek
Tasting during on-line degustation with Alexander Gabriel
Review by Jindrich Strobl
Good light and fresh rum. Easy for drinking.
Review by DutchRumPirate
Just nice to have in house. Great value.
Review by kurt holm carsen
taste a little to much of alcohol, like a cheap Rum
Review by gary0067
Calendrier de l'avent 2 décembre 2024
Review by Solidfunk
24 days of Rum #2 mini. Rotten banana and vanilla on the nose. A little lemon. The taste is quite sweet, probably added sugar knowing Plantantion, which warrants a 1 point drop. Too bad because the smell is quite complex before the sugar just kind of melts everything and smoothes it over. A little vanilla and spice in the aftertaste.
Review by StormAK
Изначально коньячный вкус и аромат мне не нравится в ромах Plantation, но спустя время они уходят и остается тот ром, который я люблю. Барбадос это фрукты, изюм , слива, ваниль
Review by Sylvain44
Pas trop mal pour le prix, pour débutant.
Review by Motvind
Bra till drinkar.
Review by Ondra Blahovec
Poměr cena výkon mě u tohoto rumu nadchnul. Jako lajk tu chuť nedokážu rozklíčovat ale ta směs ovoce je decentní a harmonická. Rum bude mít asi nějaký cukr navíc protože krásně hladí, ale není nijak přebíjející ostatní chutě.
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Expert reviews
3 critics scored it, averaging 7.0/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..
Expert review by Rum nagykövet
Read full review →
Expert review by Alkotip
Read full review →Plantation Barbados Grande Reserve is a sweet rum with a delicate buttery taste and aroma of tropical and dried fruits, coconut, baked banana. Very pleasant for regular, undemanding sipping after a hard day when you don't want to think about anything while relaxing on the couch. I like it very much and I have no problem recommending it to you. 70%
Expert review by RumRock
Read full review →
Live auctions
Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Market value
Avg. community purchase price 24 €
What members paid for this bottle, self-reported. Not a market value — the purchases are over three years old at the median and unverified.
Details about West Indies Plantation Grande Réserve
A Pot & Column Still Rum from Barbados, bottled by Maison Ferrand, at 40%.
Community purchases
762 bottles logged by 689 collectors.
A drinker's rum.
39% opened, 132 emptied and repurchased.
What does West Indies Plantation Grande Réserve cost?
Community paid 18–37 €.
Current best price: 20.90 € – within the typical community range.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
+23 purchases in the last 3 months.
Added to collections, last 12 months — dark bars are the last 3.
762 purchased · 438 tasted · 133 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
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Oliver · FounderBy rum lovers, for rum lovers
I'm Oliver, and RumX began in 2018 as a small passion project in Stuttgart, back then under the name Rum Tasting Notes.
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