Appleton Estate 21-Year

Aromas of oak, cinnamon, brown sugar and lightly fruity. Alcohol is very soft and smooth. No heat to speak of in the aroma. As it sits and opens up a bit more sweetness comes forward in the aroma.
Flavor is warm on the palate. Leather, oak, hints of vanilla, spices. Dry and spicy, little sweetness but not overly dry, bitter or tanic. Good balance. Very smooth, warming but not at all hot. Hints of unsweetened chocolate. Nothing hits you over the head here, just a lot of subtleties that can be hard to pin down. Again as it opens up a bit more sweetness comes to the front but still great balance.
The rum has a medium/long finish that starts a bit sweet and finishes dry. Super smooth here as well. The more you sip the more you want. The longer it sits here in my snifter the more complex and smooth it seems to get. I'd suggest letting it sit and open up in your glass for a good 5+ minutes before starting to enjoy it. You will be rewarded for your patience as the longer it sits in the glass the more complex and enjoyable it becomes.
This is a pricy bottle for sure but every pure rum enthusiast and collector should have a bottle in the collection. It's truly a great rum. To me this sits at an 8.5, not quite an 8 but maybe a bit shy of a 9. So for rating purposes here I vote a 9.

It’s real strong but mellows out with a great oak and vanilla after taste drink it on ice.

Bought this one on a splurge, because it was such a surprise to see in my local liquor store. High priced for a rum but an extraordinary opportunity to taste a rum at the pinnacle of the industry. Dark amber color. Nose is complex with a mix of tobacco, vanilla, and citrus. On the front of the tongue, nutty molasses and a strong taste of oak (from 21 years!). The finish is long and dry, with lingering molasses. This is the third rum older than 20 years I have tasted and the most expensive. All have been quite dry, compared to solera blends (not surprising, I guess).

This rum is okay, funky, vanilla, complex and balanced in every way. Phenomenal balanced rum, not overoaked, just perfect

More dry then expected but a very nice sipping rum. Well balanced, some tobacco-ish overtones.

This is a perfectly blended & balanced rum. Smooth, a perfect match of dry & sweet. Not cheap, so this one’s opened for very special occasions! Any rum lover should try this outstanding rum! 🏴‍☠️

My intro to rums long ago was appleton. But than I was introduced to a sweeter variety like the diplomatico or zacapa brands. I find it too dry without a finish calling me back. It just burns without a reward. And for the price I expect more. Mayne if they marketed it as an Agricole I would feel different.

Smagt til romhattens romfestival 2019. Den får en 5'er.

I like it, but like most Appletons, for me a bit too pungent. Only the 30yo and Joy really do it for me.

Another very good rum from Appleton, sweet and smokey with great lingering flavours