Appleton Estate V/X

Back when I was so much younger then today; this was my first try at a premium rum for mixing. My parents use to keep a bottle on hand for house guests. Needless to say; some of it may have gone missing over the years.
This was the first bottle that made me realize there was a difference between rums like this and rums like Lambs, Bacardi and Cpt. Morgan.
Though I don't drink this very often anymore; there will always be a place on my shelf for the VX as a mixer.

The color and aroma of Appleton V/X is as good as any rum I have but taste and after burn are not as good as its 12 year old brother or other high end rums. But when you consider that a bottle is only $16, this one is definitley worth having it in your rum cabinet.

Good color, palatable even without mix but clearly invites the drinker to try some of the more aged siblings.

I have to say for Appleton the V/X which is a blend between 5 and 10 year old (hence the V and X) is a great rum to start out the morning with. It is a nice lighter flavored rum not so strong with the oak or oak barrel flavors produced in the extra, 21, or 30 year. While clearly the 12 which is a blend of 12-18 or the 21-30 year old rum offers much more to the palate the V/X is not bad when you don't want a full on aged rum. This also beats the estate reserve which previously carried the aged statement of 8 years but no longer does. The 8 year while slightly aged longer considering color and oak flavor does not demand the 10+ dollar premium.

I personally find the nosing to be spicy, vanilla, rather subdued little detectable alcohol. The end palate which does offer a few seconds of astringency but quickly flows to a rather flavorful enjoyable finish which does last for a few min. I get more spice in my sweet finish with cinnamon, clove, and oddly some light chlorine on the tongue after the spices fade like I just jumped into a pool.

Overall a decent rum in this range for sipping and to start out any day and continue perhaps until the evening when another rum to finish the night may be called for. Subtract the astringency most likely due to younger blended barrels aged with column distillate and you have a real winner here above maybe a 6-7 rating. While Appleton has claimed the rum remains the same in the new label we can only hope that this astringent quality has been reduced or eliminated such as it was in Brugal's update of their Anejo. Hopefully they took out the chlorine which is very evident when drinking other aged rums along side.

This is very solid drink, nice to have it for a long evening. Very good taste.

Ce rhum est agréable à boire, belle bouteille d'un bon rapport qualité prix (26.5$EC soit 9€).
Si le nez est prometteur (banane, fruits secs), c'est un rhum de mélasse qui manque terriblement de corps.

Entry level rum that presents a dark copper, almost burnished colour, quite pleasant to look at. Initially light to medium body, legs don't quite cling to the glass. Moreish scent on the nose, spicy, oaky and citrus all waft nicely together. All the flavours of a stable rum present, molasses and brown sugar, oak, butter, spice (slightly hot but not overbearing) and definitely orange citrus. Not smooth bordering on sharp (for my palate), lasting hotness in mouth and throat. Buttery taste lingers.
Overall would not see this as a sipper, more or a mixer. Did thoroughly enjoy on built ice and a wedge of orange to bring out the citrus, which punches through the cola nicely.

Tho not a nice nose from my bottle, very surprisingly smooth to sip. Easy to drink but a bit on the bland side, so obviously good for mixing. A nice 'dual purpose' rum in that way, but sippers will want more flavour or character, and cocktail drinkers can use something cheaper.

Its definitely not sweet but its just smooth enough and the right price to make a very enjoyable drink. I don't think its a sipper but its not going to embarrass you in most occasions.

its a typical mix drink or to drink with a coke i find it rough on the throat