Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry Rum

Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry Rum. Cognac Ferrand / Maison Ferrand, Jamaica — a 100% pot still Jamaican rum distilled at Long Pond and Clarendon distilleries, aged first in Jamaica then re-aged in cognac casks using the Plantation house style, delivering the most authentically Jamaican expression in the Plantation range. Dry, smoky, and high-ester.

"Xaymaca" is the original Arawak name for Jamaica, meaning "Land of Wood and Water" — chosen here to signal that this is a return to the island's roots: 100% pot still production, full ester development, and the ancestral style of Jamaican rum that built the island's global reputation. Where most Plantation expressions blend pot still and column still rums from multiple countries, Xaymaca draws exclusively from Jamaica's two most historically significant pot still producers.

Long Pond Distillery in the Trelawny district has operated since the 18th century and is known for producing some of Jamaica's highest-ester pot still rums — a style demanding long fermentation in dunder pits and hot tropical conditions that encourage microbial complexity. Clarendon Distillery brings a different Jamaican pot still character: drier, more controlled, with its own ester profile. Blended together in Jamaica, the rum then travels to Cognac Ferrand's cellars at Château de Bonbonnet, where it re-ages in cognac casks, adding dried fruit and spice complexity without softening the Jamaican character.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Complex smoke, banana, vanilla, and pineapple. Classic Jamaican hogo — the funky, fruity ester character that defines the island's pot still tradition. Rich and multi-layered.
• Palate: Dry — as the "Special Dry" designation promises. The pot still weight delivers banana, tropical fruit, and high-ester Jamaican funk, but the cognac cask re-aging adds dried fruit and spice refinement without sweetening. Bold and characterful.
• Finish: Long and dry with lingering smoke, banana, and the distinctive bitter-finish character of quality Jamaican pot still rum. The cognac cask influence adds a warm, spiced close.

Specs

• Producer: Cognac Ferrand / Maison Ferrand (Plantation Rum)
• Distilleries: Long Pond + Clarendon, Jamaica (100% pot still)
• Aging: Aged in Jamaica then re-aged in cognac casks at Château de Bonbonnet, France
• ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Plantation Xaymaca taste like? Complex smoke, banana, vanilla, and pineapple on the nose with classic Jamaican hogo. Dry and bold on the palate with banana, tropical fruit, and high-ester funk refined by cognac cask re-aging. Long, dry, smoky finish with lingering banana.
• What does "Xaymaca" mean? The original Arawak name for Jamaica, meaning "Land of Wood and Water." Plantation chose it to signal a return to Jamaica's ancestral rum style: 100% pot still, full ester, and the authentic Jamaican character the island built its reputation on.
• What is hogo? The funky, high-ester aromatic character of Jamaican pot still rum — often described as banana, tropical fruit, and sometimes a "funky" or overripe quality. It comes from long fermentation with dunder (spent wash) and natural yeast that develops high concentrations of esters. Xaymaca is a showcase of this style.
• How does the cognac cask re-aging work? After aging in Jamaica, the rum is transported to Château de Bonbonnet and placed in former cognac casks for additional maturation. The French oak and cognac residuals add dried fruit and spice complexity without sweetening the rum or softening its Jamaican character.
• Is Xaymaca good for cocktails? Excellent — particularly for tiki drinks and any recipe where a funky, pot still Jamaican rum is specified. Mai Tai, Zombie, Planter's Punch, or any classic calling for "aged Jamaican rum." Also rewarding sipped neat for lovers of the Jamaican style.