Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12 Year Rum

Score: 14/23 Nose: The classic Jamaican funk is present. I detect significant oak alongside molasses, plus abundant tropical fruits like banana, mango, and orange. There’s also a subtle vegetal note, hinting at the base spirit. A faint impression of fireworks smoke is there, but not prominent. Based solely on the aroma, this appears to be an excellent rum! Palate: This is a dry spirit with prominent oak and a decent amount of fireworks. Spice is abundant, with cinnamon leading and clove also noticeable. Maple and caramel notes are present, along with some tropical fruit. Some aeration improves it. It's quite smooth and certainly seems reasonably aged. However, it's a bit lacking in complexity and body, which is a letdown after the nose. It tastes somewhat over-oaked, especially considering how muted the other flavors are and how little impact the 43% ABV has. It's reasonably rich, but not as full-bodied as I'd anticipate from 12 years in the Caribbean. A better finish or more characterful casks would benefit it. Finish: The spices and caramel have a lasting presence. Notes of oak and fireworks also linger. I can't claim to be particularly fond of this. It's palatable and serves as a fine entry into Jamaican rums, but it's rather uninspired and weak. Unfortunately, the nose is its strongest attribute. It's an adequate rum, but its $40 price tag seems high given its flavor profile, suggesting a closer to $25 value. For significantly less, I'd prefer Doorly's 12 and be more satisfied. This is suitable for colder months, and I'd enjoy a dram by the fire. It's decent, but I'm wavering between a 13-14 and 14-15 with each sip. I'll settle on a 14.

Aroma: notes of decaying banana, pineapple, spearmint, molasses, cured hide, coconut, sweetened beverage mix, caramel candy, dried lawn clippings, vanilla, cassia, pink peppercorn, muscovado, charred barrel, faint smoke, sassafras root, citrus peel (orange and lemon), concord grape, dark cherry, and a noticeable ethanol sting. Palate: orange zest, decaying banana, concord grape, dark cherry, plum, muscovado, vanilla custard, cassia, spearmint, fennel, tannic wood, black pepper, ginger root, a noticeable alcoholic kick, with a medium-long finish showing decaying, pungent fruit, astringent wood, burnt sugar, and vanilla custard flavors. This is a respectable offering in the Jamaican rum category. The intensely ripe, almost rotting fruit character is apparent, but it’s less dominant than in similar rums. This character is offset by pronounced tannic wood, baking spices, caramel candy, and deep, rich molasses undertones. In my opinion, it leans a bit too astringent and woody, but I suspect this is needed to provide complexity and prevent the profile from becoming overly saccharine. It’s above average for me, but not quite exceptional. I’ll give it a slightly higher score because it was the first decent bottle of rum I acquired when I began my exploration of spirits, so it holds sentimental value for me.

This bottle feels substantial and pleasant in the hand. It has a synthetic cork, which is excellent, and a dark wood topper with a brass emblem. Very elegant, I approve. Notes of ripe bananas, grilled pineapple, coconut-scented sunscreen, a pleasant hint of magic marker, flan, scorched caramel, and molasses. Incredible, the aroma is complex and offers a lot to explore. Upon tasting, it's dry, not nearly as sweet as the aroma suggested. Warm spices like ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice are present, along with a spicy chili kick. Subsequent sips reveal pronounced banana and vanilla notes. The scorched caramel coats the palate with a mild bitterness and a rich character from molasses, brown sugar, and nutmeg. The finish features oak and white peppercorns, as well as chili pepper. Cloves and ginger have a lasting presence. The maturity of this spirit is evident, offering profound flavor depth. The barrel influence is a constant undertone to all other elements. There's a bitterness in aged spirits that I appreciate, which I've rarely encountered in rum to this extent or complexity. I really enjoy this, and I plan to keep a bottle stocked from now on. 93/100

Compared to the Signature Blend and V/X, the 12-year-old is the best Appleton so far, though it has a cost. The 12yo is smooth, lacking harshness, and has a pleasant flavor that isn't overly sweet, burning, or sharp. It's decent, but lacks excitement. The aroma is faint, and the taste, while unique, isn't engaging like the younger blends. It's simply a blend. Its overall performance is strong, particularly for the cost, as it goes down very smoothly with just a touch of spice, fruit (like dates), and a hint of honey on the finish. However, it doesn't elicit a "Wow, this is amazing!" reaction. A peculiar tingle remains in the back of my mouth after drinking. Some might appreciate it as a sipper, especially those who prefer a bolder profile over sweetness. Others might enjoy it with Coke or in cocktails, as its distinct Jamaican character certainly suits such uses. I can see both perspectives. Ultimately, I find the less expensive Appleton varieties more enjoyable to experiment with. While its sipping qualities don't blow me away, the overall quality surpasses good, and a bottle of Appleton 12yo deserves a spot in any rum collection.

The nose is full of caramel and brown sugar with vanilla bean. There's also a detectable note of banana cooked in sugar with a light cocoa and pineapple. It's highly aromatic and rich. The taste is quite different from the aroma, starting with a very spice-forward first sip that has a strong black molasses note. The flavor lingers indefinitely with the molasses becoming very intense. Subsequent sips reveal the vanilla and caramel, but the fruits are hard to discern. The molasses note persists. This rum possesses the spice to elevate any rum cocktail and can be consumed neat, but be mindful of the bitterness from the molasses. Nose: 3.75/5 Taste: 3.25/5 Overall: 3.5/5 Repurchase: Yes Type: Daily Drinker/Cocktail Mixer

This rum strongly resembles bourbon. The aroma is packed with vanilla and molasses, accented by subtle woody spices and citrus. The palate is much more bourbon-like than rum-like, dominated by caramel and barrel char, with a touch of funk and cherry fruitiness in the background. It has a surprisingly potent alcohol presence for a 12-year-old at 43% ABV. The body is merely adequate, not remarkable. The finish presents a semi-dry oak note alongside hints of sweet bourbon and pepper. While not a terrible rum, it's somewhat underwhelming for a single estate bottling with a 12-year age statement. (Note: the bottle shape and label have been changed). Nose: 8 Taste: 7 Body: 7 Finish: 7