All in all, though, the biggest takeaway for me in this tasting is my new appreciation for the mid-tier 8 Year Old Reserve—if what Appleton wanted to do in this revamp was get attention on the newest blend, then they’ve done a good job of it. Here’s hoping I can find it for close to MSRP going forward. 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. To be honest, one of the triggers that made me write this piece is news of Appleton rebranding. As an informed drinker, I’m often wary of a brand’s restyling; it commonly means the quality of the product is going down, while the grandeur of the marketing goes up. If that turns out true in this case, the opinion of Appleton presented here may soon change. Appleton Estate 21 is bottled at 43% ABV – for those wanting Cask or Higher Strength – its unlikely you will get this from a commercial bottler. Sorry. Still this Copper Pot Distilled Jamaican Rum so it should still have plenty bite even at 43% ABV. It is a blend of pot and column distilled rums. Very serious stuff indeed. It’s a real treat to try a Jamaican rum of this age, especially a rare traditional pot still bottling of Appleton. One for the hardcore rum drinker or the serious spirits collector.

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? 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.

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... The 12 year is a well-made rum. The funk, while simple, lingers longer in the mouth compared to the 21 year. At times, that lingering funk makes me like the 21 year better—at least, whenever I am able to have it. I suppose a Jamaican rum’s funk is similar to a peated whisky’s smoke and peat: the younger the spirit, the feistier it is; the older it gets, the more mellow. If you enjoyed our rum of the year then this 21-year-old expression offers a logical progression in terms of style and maturity. Here we find the hallmark orange and spice notes from the 15-year-old greatly intensified and accompanied by stewed fruits, raisins, prunes and sweet, oaky notes of toffee and vanilla.

In 2012 Appleton Estate 21 was upgraded in terms of presentation from a blue stubby bottle to the decanter style we have now. Other upgrades to the rum came with a cork stopper instead of a metallic screw cap and a more classy canister to store the rum. The decanter style bottle was previously used with the 30 Year Old and Appleton felt the 21 deserved better presentation as well. It is one thing which sets it apart from the 12 Year Old – which is a third of the cost of the 21. On the nose: A wonderful concert of nutty, fruity and sweet wine-y scents. I get toffee, latte, coffee, muscovado sugar, figs, lavender, plums, chocolate raisins, raisin rum cake, oranges, hints of berries, baking spices and hints of PX sherry. The rums in Appleton Estate 21 Year Old, each aged a minimum of 21 years, bring their own special characteristics together into a truly glorious harmony, bestowing upon Appleton Extra its mahogany hue, bold character and smooth taste which invite favourable comparison to the world’s finest cognacs and scotches. Distilled, blended and bottled on the Appleton Estate since 1749, this Jamaica spirit is a classic expression of the rum-maker’s art. 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. 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.

Where to next?

Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. As a direct comparison to the 12 the 21 does have more complexity. It is sweeter and less dry. It has an extra layer of complexity and a few more notes than the 12. Unlike many I do not feel the 21 is over oaked or too old. It really isn’t its a beautifully balanced and skilfully blended rum. 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 This was clearly a good time to revisit the core range as a whole, so we commenced a tasting to do exactly that.

Up to now a vertical taste testing of the Appleton range (including the soon to be renamed Special) has revealed a definite increase in quality with each expression. I have noted that some find the 21 too “oaky”– a deficiency which I have also seen aimed at the 12. The criticism of the 12 I find frankly ridiculous as it one of the best value rums on the market. A true example of a great sipping rum. Still people are entitled to their opinions, though some should keep them only for close family and friends.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. This cookie is set by Rubicon Project to control synchronization of user identification and exchange of user data between various ad services.