Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12-Year

Great value in this bottle and the 12 years really is above and beyond the Special, Reserve, and even the 15 year.

UN TÍPICO APPLETON, SABOR TÍPICO DE LA FAMILIA APPLETON, EN PARTICULAR CASI IGUAL QUE EL APPLETON STATE, CON MAS CUERPO Y MÁS COLOR

A personal choice for me, discovered this rum while on holiday in Jamaica. It has got me drinking rum ever since.

Very pure no gimmicks. Nice and oaky, heavy mollasses and caramel, yet smooth as it goes down.

Un ron intenso, los aromas de naranja y chocolate están excelentemente definidos, en copa posee un gran cuerpo que se transmite en boca con un sabor fuerte y donde se aprecia el 43% de alcohol. Preferible a las rocas donde aligera su nivel de alcohol y con una pequeña rebanada de naranja para magnificar sus olor y sabor cítrico.

Un ron con notas en nariz de naranja, almendra, nuez moscada, con su toque amaderado y dulce de melaza.

En boca es muy sutil, bastante completo y untuoso, siguen las notas a madera pero es más dulce y suave donde encuentras canela, plátano, ciruela madura y dejos de especias.

Un gran Ron, lo recomiendo tomar solo!

My first bottle of Appleton Rare Blend 12 yr rum was a huge disappointment. A year later I tried another bottle and this time it was a complete different experience to the point where I am wondering if there was something wrong with my first bottle.

I know understand and agree with the ratings this rum is getting. The “Jamaican funky taste” is growing on me. 👍

N- Full, delicious brown rock candy with small tropical stone fruits of duku langsat and mangosteen. The fruity aromas in this one are unique, with superb tangy notes, exotic and surely a good sign for the quality. Remains very fresh and zesty throughout, amicably lasting and evolving with cola + lemon, sweet basil, pine and leafy. Nuttiness of cocoa and almonds emerged at the end. (22/25)

P- Hoppy bitterness with warming ginger, followed by brown liquorice. Mouthful of oak with abundance of raw spices with dryness mouth coating. (21/25)

F- Medium-long, with lingering hoppy notes, green herbs and dash of sourish dark cocoa. (21/25)

Balanced- Bold oak driven that probably masked the interesting fruity aroma from the palate and finish. (20/25)

Weighted Rate:- 84pt

— at The Rum Bar KL.

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.

This one is a delightful sipper with a nice rich overripe banana funk, tropical fruits, oak, vanilla, tobacco, and a very dry finish. This one also works well in cocktails, particularly in a rum old-fashioned or a spirit forward tiki drink.

Overall this is a very well balanced rum. The nose is quite enjoyable and goes down smoothly. I like it being at 43% ABV since it adds a little more spice to it. For $30 in my area it's a great value rum.