Appleton Estate Signature

This rum was my second attempt at trying a Jamaican pot stilled rum after find Smith & Cross to just be way too overbearing for me. I really thought after Smith & Cross that strong "leather" note meant I would not like any Jamacian rums that everyone generally fawns over.

Now, before trying Appleton Estate I did try Plantation OFTD which certainly has a very small amount of Jamaican in it as the note is present, but I also mostly use that as a mixer for Tiki drinks so it was never overbearing.

For this rum, I was quite pleasantly surprised that while the noted characteristics of Jamaican rum are there. The bananas, leather, brown sugar etc, the leather portion didn't kick me in the teeth like Smith & Cross. I was happy to note that some Jamaican rums may indeed grow on me over time.

Update: this has indeed grown on me over time, especially in a mai tai. I've updated the score from 6 initially to 7.

Used to be my go to till the local bottle shops stopped carrying it. used mostly for Rum & Coke but occasionally for other cocktails as well. just plain boring when neat

I think this is a good value rum in price terms. Versatile and respectable, taste better than the price would suggest it would

Good choice for the price. Quite sweet. I drink it solo or with coke.

Good sipper for weekdays, i’ll take the 21 12 or 21 for the weekend

Mild ethanolish feeling, kinda like drinking water with some slight ABV. Dull, no flavour, no taste at all!
Positives? At least it is not crammed with sugar or other synthetics.
This is a booze after a serious lobotomy. If this bottle was a person it would be a Rosemary Kennedy. (3,5 kinda tragical rum certainly not worthy of a famous name it is wearing.)
P.S. this rum is locally so cheap when being sold for an action price you can almost barter it for a free postage when ordering some serious rum-material.

What's not to like? A simple molasses and slight banana nose with a hint of spice to keep it interesting. The funk of this Jamacain is toned down enough to be a straightforward sipper but it shines in cocktails, particularly as a daiquiri. Not going to blow anyone away but it's hard to argue with it when I see it on the shelf.

Strong molasses aroma, yet the smell was probably the best part of this rum. It is kind of harsh and I felt lots of burning after a few sips. Definitely not a sipping rum.

its a good one if you want to mix or only sip on the rocks.

Smooth, light herbs and flowers. Nice to sip, no aftertaste.