Well, Planteray is leaning into this description with the new Hogo Monsta, a rum from Barbados that comes in a small bottle and is said to be so extreme that it’s meant only for mixing and not sipping. “At Stade’s Rum Distillery, rum has always been both tradition and experimentation,” said Alexandre Gabriel, owner and master blender of Planteray Rum, in a statement (the brand changed its name from Plantation Rum in early 2024 because of the association with the slave trade). Hogo Monsta is that dream unleashed.”Hogo Monsta, which is bottled at a high 56.6 percent ABV, is not meant to be a sipping rum, or even one that you would use to whip up a few cocktails, according to the brand. We did not get to (carefully) sample Hogo Monsta Rum yet, but the official tasting notes describe overripe banana, pineapple, mango, varnish, brine, spice, and tropical funk on the palate, with an oily and dense mouthfeel. It is available nationwide (SRP $55) starting this month in small 200-ml bottles, and you can find other Planteray rums at websites like ReserveBar now.