Appleton Estate 21 Years Old Rum, 70 cl

Product Information

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 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.

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.

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. There seem to be more whisky drinkers exploring rum these days, for a lot of different reasons. They range from simple curiosity or being told of it by a friend to finding whisky too expensive or reading articles like “Rum Could Be the Next Big Thing.” Of course, with exploration comes questions. One of the questions that will be asked is where to start; many will agree with me that Appleton is one of the best places. 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 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.” 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. 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. This cookie is set by Rubicon Project to control synchronization of user identification and exchange of user data between various ad services.Observations: Here we have an excellent example of rum bottled without added flavourings or sugar, as per Jamaican regulations. At 15 years old, it shows excellent maturity without too much oak influence obscuring the spirit character. 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.