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Posted
over 6 years ago
There are definitely better rums in this price range but I won't shoot it down completely. Has an English style rum punch to it with some fruity notes.
Be nice as a mixing rum, good on the rocks once the water melted a little, otherwise it was a tad to strong for my liking.
Would happily drink it but I say that about every rum haha
Posted
over 7 years ago
I was a fan of the V/X, which this supposedly replaced. However, there's nothing here for me. Blended to complacency for a typical consumer, I feel.
Posted
over 7 years ago
Why they have even made this?!?!? Pass years I have had this feeling that the quality of Appleton has gone down. Even their 12-years old does not taste as it used to.
I was expecting little more when I decided to taste these "relatively new ones" Signature and Estate Reserve Blend. Same crap both of them. This one is just slightly more interesting, but unfortunately interesting does not make it better
Posted
over 8 years ago
I picked up a bottle of this recently thinking it was something new from Appleton Estate and I was partially right. It's a new label for the same rum as the Appleton Estate Reserve rum. They changed labeling and naming structure in the spring of 2015. Confusing.
The aroma in the bottle has some astringency to it but nothing much else. Upon tasting it I notice some vanilla and caramel but that gets knocked aside by some tongue-tingling spiciness. Doesn't have much of a burn but still not very smooth. I would not recommend this as a sipping rum but as a mixer. It's usable and for the price a decent mixing rum.
Posted
2 months ago
Not a sipper or on the rocks.
No complexity what so ever, needs a mixer.
Spend a little bit more and get something nicer.
Posted
4 months ago
This rum was named Best Rum in 2012 and was Chairman's awarded in New York. The world discovered my favorite rum of ots class then. It's replacement 8 year old reserve by Campari is DOES NOT COMPARE to the Reserve Blend's balanced colour, woody, vanilla and hits of coffee notes.
I miss this product very much and would love to find it.
Posted
1 year ago
Awesomely smooth. Got that funky Jamaican Sour flavour that is well known with appleton estate but it is incredibly smooth. It has a sweet finish and woody after-taste
Posted
2 years ago
Average rum that doesnβt really shine in any department.
Posted
over 2 years ago
If someone tries it without knowing the rums and thinks that all rums taste like that, then they probably won't buy another one. The very artificial flavor reminds me of the artificial flavorings for low-quality cake. He is disgusting. I do not recommend to anyone. Completely lost money. In my opinion, it is absolutely useless. Neither for cocktails, nor for tea, and even less for clean drinking. In my opinion, Appleton is losing its reputation for such trash. I am ashamed to put it on my virtual shelf.
Posted
over 2 years ago
Nice colour and familiar Jamaica smell. Initial taste was too much funk and lacked a little depth but the after taste quite pleasant. Round two was an improvement - not sure if I will purchase again as the price category has some winners.
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Now that Appleton has downsized and discontinued the V/X, White, and Special Gold, there are only three rums below the $35 per bottle price tag. The Signature Blend is the entry level mixer, which I will not try. Then there is this one blended from 20 select aged rums with an average age of 6 years, followed by the Rare Blend 12 Year. I had the latter one a month or so ago and developed a love/hate relationship with it because of too much hogo Jamaican funk. This one has the hogo funk subdued quite a bit, which is alright with me. The aroma has the most hogo, but on the palate is perfectly smooth with natural sweetness from the wood and molasses with no added sugar. There is no bitterness going down the pipe. I miss the old V/X, which is a step up from their Signature Blend. I am so glad to be able to continue buying Appleton instead of giving up on them. This bottle was $27 and a better buy than the $33 Rare Blend 12 Year in the fancy box. It is also a very versatile mixer, making great Mai Tais and Goombay Smashes.
Update August 29, 2019: I have tried several Jamaican rums like this to come up with the perfect Mai Tai. This one wins for me. Using the wrong Jamaican rum in a Mai Tai will screw it up faster than anything. Well, not quite as bad as using too much orange liqueur!
Update May 31, 2020: I saw this one in a new bottle while stocking up on old favorites. There was a big number 8 designating the number of years on the front. It also said Reserve Blend. My original review was for the 6 year Reserve Blend. Does this new bottle and aging warrant another review? Not really. However, it is even better from what I remember. For only $25 US, this is a damn fine sipping dry rum with the hogo funk minimized. It is also not the same 8 year rum as what is shipped off to Europe. Appleton always keeps us confused.
Update September 24, 2023: I did a side by side taste test with the Myers Single Barrel Select that I ranked too high. I actually like this one better, so now I have no choice except to move this 8 Year Appleton up to my rating of 8. Both are now rated as an 8 for me, but subtle differences in tastes have this one ranked slightly higher than the Myer's rum. This one is also becoming harder to find.