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Posts Tagged ‘Jamaican Rum’

Top 30 Rums Countdown # 16 – Appleton Estate Extra Old 12 Year

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 9, 2012

Top 30 OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIt was in April of 2009, that I wrote my first rambling reviews on the Ministry of Rum. If you search their old threads you will come across my original write-up on the Appleton 12 year Old Rum. It was in truth the first ‘review’ I ever wrote. It really wasn’t meant to be a review; but more of a fun write-up to let the members of that forum know what I liked and didn’t and why. That rambling thread is responsible for all that followed. About 6 months later I started this website and that write-up on the Ministry of Rum became the first review I placed on my website, just a little more fleshed out but in essence that same ‘review’ I wrote originally.

In November 2012 I revisited the Appleton 12 year Old Rum and found that my appreciation of the rum had increased substantially. The Rum has improved over the last three years (or perhaps my taste has). Regardless of whether it is the rum or my taste preference (and that of my Judging Panel) the Appleton Estate Extra 12 Year Old Rum checks in as the 16th best rum in my 2012 Countdown of the Best Rums in the World.

# 16 – Appleton Estate Extra Old 12 Year

“… The rum is nice and soft in my mouth. I taste a dominant trio of dark brown sugar, charred caramel, and a spicy oak which asserts itself firmly into the flavour profile. I found if I was patient, and let the rum sit in my glass and then sipped very slowly, I could catch the nuances of other more subtle flavours underneath… “

 

Posted in Awards, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Top 30 Rums Countdown # 16 – Appleton Estate Extra Old 12 Year

Review: Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 19, 2012

Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum – Jamaica Independence Reserve is bottled from a blend of rums which have been aged for a minimum of 50 years. This is the second oldest rum I have ever tasted, the oldest being another Jamaican Rum, (a 58-year-old Gordon and Macphail bottling from the Longpond Distillery).

I was able to taste this rare bottle when I was invited to a private tasting which featured the Appleton Estate 50,  30 , 21, and 12 year old rums as well as the Master Blender’s Legacy. My host provided the 50 Year Old rum for the tasting, and I provided the other rums. Based upon how much money each bottle represented, I got by far the best end of that deal.

Here is an excerpt from my resulting review:

“… I sensed strong notes of oak and orange peel zest rising above the glass imprinted with deep dark brown sugar and baking spices. The dark brown sugar smells grow stronger over time as do the baking spices which display scents of spicy nutmeg, and cinnamon. I also smell walnuts and a strong impression of vanilla.A vague herbal note is in the air as well, which is hard for me to decipher, lemongrass perhaps…”

Please enjoy the review:

Review:  Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum

Cheers!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum

Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Rum – A Monumental Spirit

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 17, 2012

The press release from Appleton Estate Rum begins as follows:

“… Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum is proud to announce the release of a world first in Rum, the very rare Limited Edition Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum – Jamaica Independence Reserve  

Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum – Jamaica Independence Reserve comprises rums that have been aged for a minimum of 50 years in hand selected, oak barrels and it is believed to be the oldest rum available for sale in the world. Only 800 bottles of this very rare, Limited Edition bottling will be made available for sale around the world at a target Retail Price of US$5,000 per 750ml bottle…”

Wow… Five Thousand Dollars a Bottle!?

You may read my (somewhat controversial) thoughts on this new release here:

Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Rum – A Monumental Spirit

Cheers Everyone!

Posted in Dark Rums, Extras, Howls, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Review: Plantation Jamaica 2000 Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 26, 2012

The Plantation Jamaica 2000 Rum is a  pot distilled rum which is produced from molasses using a long fermentation period prior to distillation. The rum is first aged in Jamaica in used whisky and bourbon barrels after which it is transported from Jamaica to France by Cognac Ferrandto be finished in their own warehouses and of course their own Cognac Casks.

I had the opportunity to meet Guillaume Lamy, the Vice President – North America, for Cognac Ferrand in Miami last year where I was treated to a tasting of the Plantation line-up at a breakfast sponsored by Plantation Rum. I am not sure, but at that breakfast, I received the impression that the Plantation Jamaica Rum was one of Guillaume’s most favourite rums in the Plantation family. He spoke with particular passion about this rum and how, in his mind, it carried a certain extra appeal or ‘funkiness’ in the glass.

I have worked my way through seven of the eight Plantation Rum sample bottles which were given to me after that breakfast (each 200 ml in size), and I have finally arrived at the Plantation Jamaica. I hope to find the ‘funk’ that Mr. Lamy spoke so passionately of.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… As I let the glass breathe the smells are pleasant with spicy toffee mingling with pungent baking spices. The impressions of tobacco grow in the breezes above the glass and a nice marmalade sweetness seems to have developed as well. Under everything else I seem to catch glimpses of a certain ‘mustiness’ which strangely enough compliments the overall aroma of the glass… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: Plantation Jamaica 2000 Rum

Please enjoy the review!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Plantation Jamaica 2000 Rum

Celebrating: Appleton Estate Reserve Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 24, 2011

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!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Celebrating: Appleton Estate Reserve Rum