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: 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. Much like the 12 year old it is very refined by Jamaican standards, very nicely balanced and has complexity in each sip. New flavours emerge as you sip – a classic sipper.

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. For once in my reviewing process I have thought ahead. With the inevitable comparisons between those two rums it is essential I have both rums on hand as I go through this review.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.” Tasted the rum has quite a lot of sweetness for an unsweetened rum especially up front. Again nice brown sugar and toffee notes with a nice creamy nuttiness underneath. Nice tropical notes of sweet fruits a little orange zest and some nice notes of tropical fruit The oak is present heavily on the finish but it is nice and doesn’t become to dry or taste over oaked. It’s burns slightly on the finish which is very long and satisfying. Nice notes of oak and tobacco a hint of tar and smoke. 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. 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. Now I could go and try to figure out what all those nuance flavors are but my palate just ain't that edjimacated so I won't even try. I know there are a plethora of flavors that master blender Joy Spence has captured so I will just enjoy them as balanced as they are.

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. 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. This is exactly what the company has done, condensing the “core” lineup into the following three bottles: Appleton Estate Signature Blend, Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve, and Appleton Estate 12 Year Rare Casks. These brands re-debuted in the spring with a new bottle shape as well—taller and slimmer than the previously squat Appleton bottles, but with some of the same shapely curves. It’s a thoroughly modern approach, as indicated by this quote from Marsha Lumley, marketing director of J Wray and Nephew Limited, Appleton’s parent company (itself owned by Campari):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. 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). 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... Appleton is a great distillery and this is a great rum,’ says our buying director Dawn Davies MW. ‘It shows the perfect balance between elegance and power and would be equally enjoyable for someone just dipping their toe into rum as those already in love with the category.’ What’s in the bottle? Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie.