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Posted
over 2 years ago
The rare cask is better than the old extra version.
It has more orange zests, this makes it more complex and fruitier. It's not a fruity funky rum like Hampden, Appleton is always a woody juice with strong cask influece.
Smell: dry fruits, orange zests, some caramel, strong barrel/wood (oak) influence. I noticed also some vanilla from the Bourbon cask.
Taste: dry fruits and orange zests first, some burned sugar, wood and bourbon cask aromas, also vanilla, slightly spiciness at 43%.
Nice fruity aftertaste with woody cask aromas
Conclusion: It's an every day sipper like MG XO.
Not very complex but still good for the pice.
Overall rating: 81 points
Sweetness: 1.5/5
Spicy: 2.5/5
Fruit: 2/5
Mildness: 3/5
Complexity: 3.5/5
Value (24€): 4.5/5
Expert level: amateur - professional
Posted
3 years ago
I’m loving the new tastes of this 12 year now that the new master distiller is in charge.
I suggest trying their regular stuff before trying the rare cask. You get the flavor profile with the regular, and then you can pick up on the aged stuff better with this blend. Very enjoyable if you like their usual offering.
Posted
2 months ago
A must for me. Delicious, deep flavor with a minimal amount of sugar. I like it very much and when I finish drinking this bottle, I quickly order another one.
Posted
7 months ago
I like the curvy figures on these Appleton bottles. And women. The aroma is sweet(ish) and very intense. Only a slight aroma of ethanol (which is alway bad). A little bit of heat in the flavor, which is otherwise quite sweet. You can taste the age. The fruity flavor you get at the start of each sip should last longer. Flavor: 7,5 Aroma: 9 Bottle appearance: 10 Liquid appearance: 10
Posted
9 months ago
This Appleton bottle is my first true foray into the Jamaican funk.
I have a Jamaican clarendon, a Rhum Rhum and a Clairin that all are often described as being funky, but they're more grassy, vegetal and medicinal. This Appleton does not have that kind of funk, but smells and taste more of overripe fruit, rubber and glue. I know Appleton is very light on the funk, but this works for me and makes me want to try more, like the Hampden line.
The rum is oaky and dusty, though surprisingly a bit sweet. I had to let it open up for 20 minutes before I got the true flavor though, as it burned a bit when I sipped from the beginning. It feels smooth in the mouth once the sharpness of the alcohol subsided.
I'm getting banana peel, rubber, glue, old fruit, oak, maybe touch of honey on the finish.
I was torn if this would be a 7 or an 8. I thought initially a 7, but after a few small glasses I wanted more and found it to be a nice, round sipper with some comfortable funk. After I finished a third of the bottle, I decided to rate it an 8. I think I'll certainly restock this once it is empty, unless the Hampden line becomes available here again and I get addicted to the funk.
Nice and balanced flavour, in my top list from now on
Posted
11 months ago
Probably my favorite "English Style" rum workhorse (sipping and mixing).
After the huge disappointment that was the Diplomático, this is my second ever tasted rum, and I really liked it.
For starters, it actually smells like rum ("ester notes", banana, or, if you ever used the solvent ethyl acetate, somewhat like that).
The taste is very smooth, without being sugar-sweet and it leaves an oaky aftertaste with some pleasant sting and warmth. This one is definitely barrel aged and 12 years sound plausible. So, to my surprise, this one could also be considered an "easy sipper", but also has an interesting bouquet, if you smell closer.
Posted
1 year ago
Clean but also slightly spicy & hot
Theres smoothness …. Also flavor ..
not super whiskey like but similar .. notes of caramel vanilla etc
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Update as if November 1st 2021,
As my palette for rum, and tasting experience, evolves, I find this 12 year to be a little thin tasting. I now prefer the 8 year, which is a very similar flavor palette. The 8 year doesn't come across as much younger, still has nice hints of vanilla, orange and spice but drinks a little hotter and more robust for significantly less coin. I also have found my ideal sipping rum in a bottle of Hampden Great House 2020 release, and I can't see giving this 12 year and that the same score either.
Update as of May 16th 2021,
I am upgrading my rating to a solid 9, maybe 9.5 after doing a thorough tasting of multiple rums. We tasted the Doorly's XO, Doorly's 12 year, Hampden 8 year and this Appleton 12 year and overall the Appleton is the clear favorite. It has a little bit of everything. Plenty of mild sweetness, toffee and caramel notes along with burnt brown sugar, vanilla and orange, dark fruits, that wonderful Jamaican funk of very ripe bananas and pineapple and a beautiful long, warm finish. Pretty much everything you could ask for in classic sipping rum.
Original Review:
As others have said, this is not the same as the previous expression labeled 12 year from Appleton's, this is a new iteration and really one of the best sipping rums out there. My other favorite sipper being Doorly's XO, just so you know where I am coming from. This rum has great complexity and doesn't overwhelm with any of the notes, but offers a really nice balance.
The nose is great, and if you love Jamaican rum, as I do, you can spend a bit of extra time here enjoying the nice combination of warm Jamaican funk, oak, molasses, orange and spice. The taste is perfect for sipping, with a good hit of alcohol up front, strong but not confrontational, then nice sweet notes of toffee and caramel with vanilla, orange, light banana and stone fruit, followed by the distinct hogo that I lovo. the finish is long with a mild touch of charred oak and raisins.
This is a really great rum and the price point around $45 US right now is decent too for such quality I would give this a solid 8.5, leaving a little room to run since, frankly, I haven't tasted much at higher price points yet, in my rum tasting journey. Enjoy neat, or with an ice cube or two to open it up or in a nice rum Old Fashioned, with a twist of orange and a Luxardo cherry.