Recently I was afforded a chance to revisit Appleton Estate Reserve Rum when the media company representing the brand in Canada asked me if I would like to receive a bottle. Although I have already reviewed this rum, I was not about to turn down a rum bottle which would fit very nicely on the Appleton shelf of my liquor cabinet.
I have found that the Appleton Estate VX and the Appleton Estate Reserve are two of my favourite cocktail rums. The Appleton Estate Reserve has the same signature Appleton flavour and aroma which I noted in my review of the Appleton Estate VX a few weeks ago. However, things seem to be brought up a notch with a higher level of smoothness, and more complexity in the Reserve Rum. The high level of complexity in the Reserve arises because this Appleton Rum uses a large number of rums in its blend, 20 in all, and because the rums which are used in the Reserve blend are aged for a longer period of time than for the Appleton VX Rum.
Of course, receiving a bottle of Appleton Estate Reserve deserves a Celebration:
The Appleton Celebration
2 oz Appleton Reserve Rum
2 oz Fresh Squeezed and strained Pink Grapefruit Juice
3/4 oz London Dry Gin
1/4 oz Sloe Gin
1 teaspoon Simple Sugar (or grenadine)
Combine ingredients into a metal shaker with ice.
Shake until the metal shaker chills.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Garnish with lemon slice
And sometimes I just cannot resist putting the ice from the shaker into the cocktail glass as well. Sitting on the back deck in the shade with a Celebration Cocktail is one of the best ways I can think of to spend a Saturday afternoon.
For those who are interested, here is my review of Appleton Reserve Rum:
Review: Appleton Estate Reserve Rum
Cheers my friends!
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