Appleton Estate Reserve 8-Year

such a great everyday sipping wine that transports me back to the Caribbean every time. Yeah, not top shelf but reliable, affordable, full flavour, a real cigar of a rum.

Thought I would try the new Appleton Estate Reserve 8 Yr & Appleton Rare Casks 12 yr Rums recently released from Jamaica. I was really surprised with the younger rum which I find even better than the Older version of the Appleton Rare Blend 12 yr version and Its quality is definitely worthy of being drank neat. The new version of the 12 year (Rare Casks) is also much better than the older version and in my opinion both dessrve a “9” rating.

Update (21-11-25): Reviewed score on this rum, still a very good sipping rum but not worth a “9”. Score reduced to “8”.

Found it to be quite enjoyable. Made a fantastic old fashioned. I think I'm a fan of the funk.

This rum surprised me, although I didn’t exactly know what to expect. For clarification, being a HUGE fan of Jamaican rums (the more hogo the better!), I want super impressed with Appleton’s Signature Blend. It’s fine, don’t get me wrong, and I’d surely use it in cocktails, but it’s not being drank neat. I was missing the funk and character of the Jamaicans I so eagerly chase. That all being said, I was hoping the 8 year Reserve would Reserve something a little more special for me. And it did! It had enough funk to remind me of its origin, and a nice smooth, lightly caramel and toffee backbone that begs for another sip. Think Plantation 5 year without the added sweetness/sugars. Superb rum for mixing, or sipping, and particularly at its modest price point.

I tried this alongside of the Bacardi 8. Both have that hint of molasses that I like, but this one is more spicy or peppery - it has some burn. It certainly has more character than their basic offering.

Would buy again.

Edit - Bumping this up to 9 to match the current 12 year rare casks offering, as to me they are almost identical. This is a better deal, however, and is looking to become my goto for sipping rum.

I guess I like the Funky Stuff

Edit - Hell with it - this one's my personal "10" for enjoyment/value

Not one of my go to rums but I would drink it again if it was on a great sale. Decent rum for range but prefer Mt Gay.

We did a vertical tasting of the Appleton range from the standard all the way to the 21, and this was the standout rum. A big jump up from the bottom of the range, but only a few dollars more. If you like heavy Jamaican funk, the 12 year may be more your style, but this 8 year is definitely the best value Appleton offer. The 15 would be the most similar step up from this one.

Sattes Bernstein im Glas. Ist gefärbt und so auf der Flasche bezeichnet.
In Nase weich und dezent. Karamell und Früchte durchbrechen nach langer offener Zeit den alkoholischen Dunst und geben ihr Geheimnis preis. Banane, Ananas, Vanille tanzen im Rhythmus der Hölzer.
Am Gaumen dezent und harmonisch. Tropische Früchte, Banane, Ananas und Mangos tragen das Karamell voller Respekt über die Zunge. Edle Holznoten und feinste Gewürze sind stimmig eingebunden.
Im Abgang harmonisch und lang. Wie ein karibischer Sonnenuntergang, alles verschwindet langsam nach und nach.
Ein gutgemachter simpler Rum ohne den ganzen "funk / hogo" High Ester Firlefanz. :-) Von Joy perfekt und harmonisch geblendet. Für Einsteiger, Barkeeper und Wer auch immer.
Für meine 8. Rum Runde.

Rich amber in the glass. Is colored and so designated on the bottle.
In nose soft and discreet. Caramel and fruit break through the alcoholic haze after a long open time and reveal their secret. Banana, pineapple, vanilla dance to the rhythm of the woods.
Subtle and harmonious on the palate. Tropical fruits, banana, pineapple and mangoes carry the caramel across the tongue with respect. Noble wood notes and finest spices are harmoniously integrated.
The finish is harmonious and long. Like a Caribbean sunset, everything slowly disappears little by little.
A well-made simple rum without all the "funk / hogo" High Ester frippery. :-) Blended perfectly and harmoniously by Joy. For beginners, bartenders and whoever.
For my 8th rum round.

Appleton Estate is my favourite rum distillery, their 21 years is absolute perfection for my taste. This new 8 years reserve is very good and has all of the typical characteristic of his older brothers: sweet and funky taste, great balance, oaky nose. If compared to the 12 and 21 years it has less personality though: its taste is not very complex, its sweetness is weaker and the oaky notes are very light. Still a great sipping jamaican rum

Excellent quality for the price. This one won a family blind taste test involving more expensive rums.