Paradigm – Planteray Paraguay Single Cask 2026

In this case, I created a variation of the Black Rum Manhattan using a rum that I received from Ferrand Germany. This Planteray Rum belongs to their 2026 Single Cask collection. The molasses based rum from Paraguay spends some additional time in Marsala casks.

For their 2026 edition Planteray use rum distilled from molasses in the Fortin distillery in 2014. The rum aged for eight years in bourbon casks. Afterwards, the rum is transferred to France and aged in cognac barrels. The final stage of ageing took place in Marsala casks for two years and three months. The rum is bottled at 45,4 % ABV with no added sugar.

Tasty and balanced

The Paraguayan rum carries some ester notes in the aroma as well as in the taste. Yet, the fruitiness of the nose is followed up with a certain dryness. There are oak spices which remind me of cinnamon and cloves, but the tannins are kept in check by some burned sugarcane flavour.

Black Rum Manhattan-ish

I was pretty sure that I had recently bought a bottle of Lucano Amaro, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. To make matters worse, I had also run out of my favourite cherry eau de vie. Nevertheless, I decided to replace both with other bottles I had on hand. I used Varnelli Amaro Sibilla as well as mirabelle eau de vie from Guglhof.

The drink opens with a combination of bitterness and a vermouth flavour, reminiscent of a Hanky Panky. However, the plum eau de vie’s fruitiness and the rum’s molasses flavours shine through. It’s a complex drink, but you definitely have to like Amaros to fully appreciate it!

*The fact that I received a product reviewed in this article for free, did not – in any way – influence the rating of said product. I received the rum for free from Ferrand Germany.