Appleton Estate 12 Year Rare Casks

The Bottle: Appleton generally does a good job in this area, and the 12-year is a good example. The bottle shape resembles a Jura single malt with its classy curves, and the black and gold label on the front adds to the aesthetic. Simple with a nice, classic elegance. In the Glass: This one is somewhere between a dark gold and bronze. Swirling it in the glass leaves nice legs that indicate the overall body and structure. Quite good. On the Nose: The prominent notes are burnt/brown sugar and green banana. The characteristic Jamaican "hogo" is present on the backend with a slight astringency that works well. Taste: The arrival is subtle; this isn't an overwhelming rum. It develops into more brown sugar with some baking spices and caramel before finishing quite dry. There's no mistaking its Jamaican origin:). The 43% ABV is only really noticeable on the finish where the astringency kicks in a bit, but it's completely acceptable. Overall, this is a good value for the price. It wouldn't be bad for sipping, but I think it performs even better in a cocktail, especially as a substitute for bourbon (Kingston Old Fashioned, anyone?). As always, I definitely appreciate a distiller that has the integrity to leave out added sugar (and likely added color).

Strong vanilla and molasses on the nose. Definitely brings back memories of all the Appleton Estate I drank when I was younger, but it's certainly more refined. Oily mouthfeel, and less sweet than I anticipated, which is a nice change. Leather and tobacco and a little bit of allspice. The sweetness returns in the finish with caramel, mango and spice. Medium length. Overall, this is very solid. When you want a break from the sweetness of Zacapa or El Dorado, this is the perfect choice. I can't wait to try it in a few cocktails.

I typically enjoy scotch, bourbon, and mezcal, so I was trying out sipping rum… Nose: Earthy with notes of tobacco leaf, leather, and a hint of molasses. Palate: Surprisingly oily texture. Earthy and much less sweet than anticipated. No harshness, but the alcohol is quite noticeable on the palate. The finish is rather short, consisting mainly of alcohol with a touch of leather and earthy notes. This experience hasn't encouraged me to explore rum further… I think I'll stick to scotch, bourbon, and mezcal.

A rich, Jamaican Rum from Master Distiller Joy Spence aged in oak for at least 12 years before being bottled at 43% ABV. It has an aromatic beginning with notes of sugarcane, wood, tropical & dried fruits, nuts, herbs & spices; while a rich middle added notes of creamy brown sugar, vanilla, molasses, banana & orange zest; leading to a long brown sugar finish with a touch of oak, walnuts, hazelnut, nutmeg, coffee & dark chocolate.

The initial aroma screams quality rum. Good, clean scents of oak and rich vanilla. The first sip hits you with alcohol, oily notes, allspice, clove, light cinnamon, and hazelnut. The warmth is brief but very pleasant; I wish it lasted longer. If you let the flavors mingle, you can detect all the subtleties. The warmth lingers nicely after the finish. Very good rum with a bourbon character.

Strong funk, molasses, overripe banana, brown sugar, tropical fruit, toffee, caramel, and oak notes. Semi-sweet and somewhat rich. Enjoyable enough neat. I'm halfway through this bottle. Each serving seems to highlight different notes. I'm not sure I'll buy another bottle, but it's been an interesting experience.