Appleton Estate Rare Casks 12-Year

($36CAD) This is one of the new bottles of the 12 year and I have to comment on the bottle itself. I’ve never been so pumped about a rum before actually tasting it. Everything about the presentation is pleasing to me. The bottle has a sleek yet funky design. The black label fits nicely with the darker color of rum. The cork has both wood and gold color in it, it’s all very easy on the eyes. Very well done, presentation-wise.
To the rum! 43% abv and a full 750mL bottle.
Nice and dark. Smells like bananas a bit, maybe some tropical fruits; pineapple?
The taste is nice, a bit of sweetness up front with fruit and then oak and tobacco or leather. Then it settles into the heat.
This is a damn near perfect rum. It looks amazing, the taste is fantastically complex yet smooth. The real kicker for me is the price: what value! If I had known I would love it this much, I would’ve bought more while it was on sale. This has become a staple for me and very well could be my favourite at the moment. Well done Appleton Estate!

Wow! I'd always wanted to try the 12-yr Rare Blend but it was never available in my area. THIS, however, more than makes up for the fact that I was never able to try that blend. Having thoroughly enjoyed both the Signature and the Reserve blends in cocktails, I had always wondered what the 12 year would bring to the table...

Smooth, baby, smooth. Maybe a little bit of burn on the back end, but at $40 per 750ml I'm not one to quibble about a bit of burn. A little ice or water cools that off easily and isn't always needed IMO. Not as funky as the other AEs I've tried, more subtle, but not lacking in character.

Exceptional drink for the price. I plan to always have a bottle in my cabinet.

Very easy to drink neat. Banana flavours and vanilla.

This rum can either go into a cocktail or stand on it's own.

Great overall rum from Appleton Estate. Lacks much of the funk often associated with Jamaica, but still a great choice.

I can sip on this rum just fine. It pretty smooth, and heavy on the oak flavor. There’s a little bit of bitterness and some burnt caramel in the middle of the taste before the alcohol heat kicks in.

Some might cry foul on using a 12 year as a mixer, but I find this rum really shines in that role. It’s robust enough to add character to complex tiki drinks and its a staple of my rum collection. I’ll put it in anything calling for a blended aged rum and have never regretted it.

It’s also absolutely fantastic in a bombo or a rum old fashioned. Just a bit of sugar and this one really dances, the somewhat harsh flavors balance incredibly well with a bit of sugar and a cocktail designed to showcase the spirit.

This, to me is what rum is all about. Nice smooth aroma. Deep flavor. Although there is a bit too strong of an alcohol burn in the aftertaste but that can be cut down a fair amount by adding an ice cube. Really good rum at a fair price. I was also considering Appleton Black River cask but for about $20 more I do not see the point. Why pay 50% more when it is hard to imagine it being much better than this.

Tasted at Laka Lono on 11/20/22. Deep dark gold. Aroma of coconut chocolate and hugu. The funk still remains in the flavor. Slightly thin but awesome honey and Jamaican funk.

I thought this was the 12 year rare blend repackaged but this is something new. Nice fruit forward banana notes, with mild spiciness. Lots of depth with just the right amount of Hogo. Blindfold me and I know it Jamaica and Appleton. I give this a notch up from the 12 year rare blend. Great rum in the $40 range not too sweet like ElDorado US concoctions.

New here and exploring. Picked this one up on recommendations and am very happy with it. For a Jamaican it’s not too funky (and I love funk) but has an oaky mellowness to it that I quite enjoy. Almost a Cuvée finish that goes down smooth and lets you know it’s got some good age to it. One I will definitely be keeping on my shelf.

Nice body, molasses , smooth but not the best.. I need to try more.