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.

An 18 year old Appleton small batch (casks #420930-420950 bottled by Velier for the Hearts Collection. Velier was founded in Genoa by Casimir Chaix in 1947. It was originally a small, family-run business specializing in the import and distribution of wine and spirits. Luca Gargano, a former representative for Saint James and serious rum collector and enthusiast, bought the business in 1986 and began bottling whisky first in 1992 and then rum in 1996. Rums selected by Velier are only ever aged in a tropical climate, which explains both their concentration and the high angels’’ share. They are generally bottled at cask strength or just below. The company’’s selections from Diamond’’s vaults as well as the Caroni bottlings and the bottlings from various distilleries in Jamaica, Barbados and other countries have played a key role in rum’’s history and are today some of the most sought-after in the category. A limited edition of 5,000 bottles.