Founded in 1655 as a sugar refinery, The Appleton Estate began producing rum in 1749, making it the oldest rum distillery in Jamaica still in operation. The Appleton Estate Special, the estate’‘s flagship product, was created during the Second World War to compensate the shortage of whisky on the island. Over the decades the distillery has survived various crises by using an independent sugar cane supplier. In 1997 Appleton Estate appointed Joy Spence as their Master Blender, the first woman to occupy such a position in the rum industry. The Appleton Estate is highly renowned among experts and regularly wins awards for the consistent quality of its production.

Distilled from molasses in small copper stills produced specially for Appleton, this rum is a blend of several nectars aged for 21 years in American oak casks. This blend is then married together in casks for two further years to balance the flavours before bottling at 43% ABV. Only 12,000 bottles are produced per year and each bottle is numbered.
Equipped with incredible aromatic complexity, this rum stands out for the impressive harmony found between its different flavours. On the nose, aromas of brown sugar, caramel, vanilla and citrus fruit arrive in series on top of a lovely woody foundation. The palate is then dry, revealing flavours of blond tobacco, cocoa and precious wood pepped up by beautiful spicy notes. The long and persistent finish heats up slightly before ending in a subtle and elegant ensemble. Try a pairing with foie gras and mango chutney.