Meet Thierry, Digger, Romel, Soneel, Mike, Laurie and Vivian. Each name marks an encounter that left its mark; each bottle carries the craftsmanship, knowledge and character behind it.
The new Extreme series, Planteray pays tribute to the people who have shaped, and continue to shape the story of rum. People who have devoted decades to their craft, passing on knowledge, preserving techniques and pursuing character without ever taking shortcuts.
A collection that reads like a travel journal
Alexandre Gabriel's journal, to be precise. For more than three decades, he has travelled to meet the people behind Rum: listening, learning, exchanging ideas and understanding the craft through those who know it best. Those encounters, and the knowledge and friendships that grew from them, are at the heart of the sixth edition of the Extreme collection. Called Legends of Rum, it brings together six cask-strength bottlings, each drawn from one or two casks carefully selected.
This collection isn't out to show off, to flex power or to chase rarity. It's about the people who left a mark on Alexandre Gabriel's journey, both personally and technically. Each rum is dedicated to one pivotal figure and one terroir.
The land and its people
The journey starts in Haiti with a 2005 vintage pure cane juice rum. It honors Thierry Gardère, the first person to reach out to Alexandre Gabriel, more than 30 years ago, and the man who helped Alexandre find his way into the world of rum across the Caribbean.
Theirs was a foundational relationship, built on high standards and knowledge freely shared, with an introduction to a much deeper reading of terroir at its center. Elegantly aged, this rum is a lesson in finesse (816 bottles).
With the Saint Lucia 2009, the tribute goes to Laurie Barnard. A true guardian of the island's rum heritage, whose passing left a deep void. His bond with Alexandre Gabriel was immediate, almost brotherly. This rum speaks to what they both loved: long fermentations, heavy pot still distillation and hours of conversation that never ran out of steam (462 bottles).
Next stop, Belize, with a 2006 dedicated to Romel Perdomo. There's a little-known story behind this edition: a long-standing connection between his family and the Stade’s Rum distillery, where expertise and techniques traveled back and forth, shaping the Belizean style. Structured, rich and complex, this rum will be available in just 606 bottles.
In Barbados, the D.A.S.H. rum celebrates the 45-year career of Henderson "Digger" Skinner, who followed in the footsteps of his father, a distiller at the same distillery for 47 years before him. Together, they add up to more than 90 years of family know-how handed down from father to son, along with the preservation of forgotten techniques like distilling on the Vulcan still. A rare bottle, with only 960 produced, that packs in nearly a century of history and knowledge passed along.
The Fiji Islands 2007 is a tribute to Soneel Raj and Mike Spencer. Long fermentation, 100% pot still distillation: the Fijian style shows its full character here. Planteray and Rum Co. of Fiji go back a long way, on mutual admiration and open exchange. Raw character, in a run of just 888 bottles.
Finally, the Jamaica MMW 1998 honoring Vivian Wisdom. A central figure in Jamaican rum and a master of fermentation, he has worked in nearly every distillery on the island over the course of his career. His 35 years spent making rum have made him one of the keepers of that heritage. Vibrant and fruity, this Monymusk Wedderburn delivers all the intensity and "funk" Jamaica is known for, in just 462 bottles.
Art bears witness
Every bottle is dressed in an original piece by Barbadian painter Alex Mars. His style, rooted in street art and the bright colors of his island, carries the story further. Through his work, he captures the energy of these terroirs and their cultural diversity, conveying the depth of the human stories behind them. Each label becomes a portrait, and each rum, a voice.
More than a tasting: a legacy passed on
Legends of Rum is a collection made to be talked about as much as tasted. It reminds us that behind every sip are real relationships, knowledge passed down and people whose paths crossed along the way. Great rums are never created alone. They are born from conversation, shared knowledge and a pursuit that brings people together.
One last piece of advice? Take your time. Some journeys are meant to be savored slowly.
Extreme Series VI - The Legends of Rum
Haiti 2005 - 43.8%
- Distillery: Barbancourt
- Raw material: cane juice
- Fermentation: 2 to 3 days
- Distillation: column still
- Aging: 19 years on site (ex-bourbon casks) and 1 year in France (ex-Ferrand cognac cask)
- Volatile substances (including esters): 186 g/hl AA, of which 43 g/hl AA are esters
Saint Lucia 2009 - 55.0%
- Distillery: St. Lucia Distillers Ltd.
- Raw material: molasses
- Fermentation: 1 to 2 weeks
- Distillation: pot still
- Aging: 13 years on site (ex-bourbon casks) and 3 years in France (ex-Ferrand cognac cask)
- Volatile substances (including esters): 1860 g/hl AA, of which 358 g/hl AA are esters
Belize 2006 - 60.4%
- Distillery: Travellers Distillery
- Raw material: molasses
- Fermentation: 3 to 4 days
- Distillation: column still
- Aging: 15 years on site (ex-bourbon casks) and 4 years in France (ex-Ferrand cognac cask)
- Volatile substances (including esters): 393 g/hl AA, of which 144 g/hl AA are esters
Barbados D.A.S.H. - 59.0%
- Distillery: Stade's West Indies Rum Distillery
- Raw material: molasses
- Fermentation: between 2 days and 2 weeks
- Distillation: column still and pot still
- Aging: 2 years on site (ex-bourbon casks) and 1 year in France (ex-Ferrand cognac cask)
- Volatile substances (including esters): 579 g/hl AA, of which 233 g/hl AA are esters
Fiji Islands 2007 - 57.8%
- Distillery: Rum Co of Fiji
- Raw material: molasses
- Fermentation: 4 to 5 days
- Distillation: pot still
- Aging: 14 years on site (ex-bourbon casks) and 4 years in France (ex-Ferrand cognac cask)
- Volatile substances (including esters): 851 g/hl AA, of which 190 g/hl AA are esters
Jamaica MMW 1998 - 52.0%
- Distillery: Clarendon Distillery ltd.
- Raw material: molasses
- Fermentation: 2 to 3 weeks
- Distillation: pot still
- Aging: 26 years on site (ex-bourbon casks) and 1 year in France (ex-Ferrand cognac cask)
- Volatile substances (including esters): 1821 g/hl AA, of which 536 g/hl AA are esters
👉 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Deezer, and more.
Member discussion