Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12-Year

The funk is there, but 12 years have taken the edge off and left a very smooth, well-rounded versatile product. It's not often I reach for a funky rum, they are generally not my favorite, but this is the one I go for and it does everything well. SUPERIOR mixer.

sugar test- 0

What a suprise the smooth arouma and taste go hand in hand love it on the rocks

To be honest, i love rum, but am no specialist. Ordered this to try, and just love it. Nice smooth taste. Tried a cheap Appleton rum in the past and disliked it. But this is really good, simple as that. Just buy it and enjoy!

This is seriously lovely Rum. I had the Appleton 12 old a year or so ago and was not overly impressed with it. This "Rare Blend" is much more to my liking. A lovely sweet taste, with a real depth of flavour, surprisingly smooth for 43% and a lovely after taste. I am so glad I read the other reviews and purchased this. I think this may become one of my Top Rums, simply delicious.

Aroma is quite funky with ripe banana and vanilla

Taste has less funk than you’d expect from the aroma but still has a little bit in there. Buttery brown sugar and very smooth.

Great as a sipper and makes a decent daiquri but not really one to use in cocktail. Very nice indeed

One of my favourites! Best bang for your buck and a solid go to rum choice for all rum lovers !

Very corpolent and powerfull rum. Smells magnifique, medium aftertaste. Classic jamaican rum.

I thought this one won't be good when I first taste it but on the second/third thought this one is really good. Recommended to leave it breath for 5-10 minutes before drinking...

Having become a Foursquare fan, I am usually sceptical about blends.
Two things caught my attention and made me reconsider:
Unlike Solera rums, Appleton's age statements are the MINIMUM age of the rum included, not the oldest.
Jamaican law prohibits adding sugar.
The parent company Campari has completed a rebranding process for their 3 younger products in 2019, which now calls this "rare blend". The label has changed - the contents has not.
Nice cardboard tube, chunky bottle, makes a nice present. Screwcap. Aged in American oak after blending.

Dark amber / mahagony colour.
Lovely complex nose of ripe fruit and nuts.
The typical Jamaican funk of volatile esters is very restrained, not the bursting over ripe banana of a Hampden or Mezan. It delivers the aromas gently and beautifully.
Same in the mouth. Gentle, full aromas, not overpowered by the 43% alcohol.
The fruity notes carry over into to woody tones from the oak barrels, which linger.
This is a dry rum (sweetness 1/5)
Gentle burn.
In summary a very high quality rum full of flavour but of understated Jamaican character.
Considering that in 2019 it costs around £35 in the UK, maybe it should score a 9. Great stuff.

Très beau colori caramel. Rhum assez puissant. Prédominance d'arôme de chocolat noir. Bonne longueur en bouche.