Appleton Estate 21 Years Old Rum, 70 cl

Product Information

Appleton makes a good beginner’s Jamaican rum because it’s not as funky as more estery brands like Hampden and Worthy Park. (Single Cask Rum wrote an informative article on this subject.) Fermentation is only one and a half days long; this is short compared to the five days to more than a week usually given to fermentation in Jamaica. The distillery uses a mix of pot and column stills, rendering this a single blended rum if one uses the Gargano Classification. Hampden, Long Pond and Worthy Park use only pot stills, which makes them pure single rum, although I’m told Long Pond still houses traditional column stills that could be functional after some repairs.

On the nose, my immediate impressions are ripe dessert banana and molasses, along with light grassiness and faint hints of oak. Sweet brown sugar is featured prominently on the palate, along with sweet, toasty baking spice and fruitiness that trends toward caramelized plantains or tostones. There’s a bright note that is something like lime citrus, and an overall profile that is nicely balanced between freshness and richness, while being slightly punchy as well.The consumer palate has become much more sophisticated. Appleton Estate’s range boasts some complex and elegant expressions, which inspire us to both educate and entertain on a higher level. This relaunch gives us the opportunity to illustrate Jamaica’s rich history and geography, as we reinvent our most iconic international brand to connect deeper with our existing consumers and appeal to new markets across the globe.” Appleton Estate 21 is a blend of rums which have a minimum age of 21 years. Whilst age statements cannot be relied upon I have tasted nothing in the Appleton range previously which would make me suspicious of their claims. It seems like the baking spices flavor is part of the distillery’s DNA. It’s nice that despite the short fermentation and long time in casks, one can still taste it. The 12-year-old can show rum newbies what most of Jamaican rum will be like, while the 21-year-old seems like it caters more to single malt drinkers. Many people will try Appleton Estate 21 as a extra special treat as they like the more easily affordable 12 Year Old. For many this bottle will represent a Christmas or Birthday present. On the nose: Slightly funky and simple. Some fermented bananas, nuts, anise, pimento dram, fennel and cloves. Some American-oak influences like caramel, sugar, vanilla and chocolate also come out.

Will it focus on whether it is “worth” the extra money? No because in all honesty such a difference in price cannot really be explained just by the rum being “better”– it is still likely to be too expensive for most to become their regular sipper – something which the 12 can offer (and does a bloody good job of it as well). I admit that I am drawn more to the sweeter rums but there is something about this particular rum that just makes my taste buds smile and do a little jig. Makes my tongue feel weird but jig buds, jig. They dig it! Nose: Rich molasses hits you right away followed by clove studded oranges, cinnamon, almonds, apricots and plums. In addition to the fruit and spice there’s also a pleasantly phenolic side with engine oil, a dab of shoe polish and a drop of tar. We’re definitely in Jamaica. The rum is blended by Master Distiller Joy Spence. Whilst the blend differs from year to year Joy attempts to re-create the same profile each year. We are not talking about a different vintage each year. Appleton 21 created in 2012 should taste near as dammit the same as the one produced in 2015. 12,000 bottles are produced each year. Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie.Although a drier rum than I am accustomed to, the Appleton Estate 21-Year rum has a sweetness to it that becomes most apparent, albeit subtly, when the burn fades. That long finish has flavors that make you want to take another sip...then another...then another... To celebrate the occasion, we’re taking a closer look at this award-winning Appleton rum, starting with the most important question of all: What does it taste like? In the world of rum, there are few names as well-respected as Joy Spence. Raised in Kingston and studied in chemistry, Joy joined J Wray & Nephew – the owner of Appleton Estate – in 1981. In 1997, her work and talents were recognised when she was promotion to the rank of master blender, making her the first woman across the global sprits industry to ever earn the title. She has created blends for royals and heads of state, she was instrumental in gaining GI status for Jamaican Rum, and she is involved in numerous philanthropic ventures that aid women around the world. In the mouth: Tastes like fermented bananas with hints of banana syrup infused with baking spices like fennel, anise and cloves. Some ex-bourbon flavor like vanilla, honey and muscovado syrup come out. There are hints of chocolate, caramel and toffee hiding in there as well. Score: 5/10 Appleton Estate 21 Year Old Rum – review