Aged rum is having a second, and Jamaica’s oldest repeatedly working rum distillery is poised to benefit from it.
Appleton Estate has simply launched The Supply, the world’s oldest tropically aged rum —a uncommon and buzzworthy spirit that has been matured for an eye-popping 51 years. This elusive single marque rum was crafted from Appleton single-estate sugar cane, and the liquid was distilled completely of their conventional copper pot stills following open-top fermentation. The rum started its life in earnest on July thirtieth, 1973, when it was initially rested in a single American oak cask. From that humble starting, a group of over 40 casks was then produced with an eye fixed on experimenting with hyper maturation. The liquid was then rigorously overseen by Appleton’s former Grasp Blender, Owen Tulloch, and later entrusted to his successor and present Appleton Estate Grasp Blender, Dr. Pleasure Spence, the primary feminine Grasp Blender within the spirits business.
Spirits lovers who’re extra acquainted with hyper-aged whiskey ought to take observe. Resulting from its tropical getting older, the issue of manufacturing a rum that was tropically matured for over 5 many years is not any small feat. Jamaica’s local weather matures the spirit roughly 2-3 instances sooner than the cooler getting older circumstances in America and Europe, which implies this liquid has extra in widespread from a maturity standpoint with a Scotch that’s greater than twice its age. Accordingly, this uncommon liquid (restricted to simply 25 decanters globally) carries a big asking value of $70,000.
To honor the trouble, time, and distinctive high quality of the rum, Appleton Estate opted to deal with it in heart-shaped decanters that function a crystalline aquamarine base, supposed to reference the long-lasting limestone-filtered aquifer situated on the coronary heart of Appleton Estate. The expression’s namesake water supply can also be the religious coronary heart of each rum produced on the distillery, and it’s lengthy been a supply of inspiration for Grasp Blender Dr. Pleasure Spence, who calls it one in all her favourite locations on Earth.
In celebration of this milestone launch, Appleton Estate will even launch a partnership with the Jamaica Artwork Society to offer assist and alternatives for Jamaican artists & curators. Given its distinctive place, having one of many world’s largest inventories of aged rum, and with its historical past as Jamaica’s oldest repeatedly working rum distillery, Appleton Estate’s emphasis on supporting the native artistic group will go a good distance in persevering with to raise the class and guarantee it’s appreciated by way of the right lens each on the island and across the globe.
With all that mentioned, you could be questioning —simply what does the world’s oldest tropically aged rum style like? I used to be lucky to get a sophisticated style of this elusive rum earlier this yr alongside Dr. Pleasure Spence.
Hold studying under for my full assessment!
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Appleton Estate The Supply 51-12 months-Outdated Rum Assessment
ABV: 62%
Common Value: $70,000
The Rum:
Appleton Estate The Supply 51-12 months-Outdated Rum is the world’s oldest tropically aged rum. This single marque rum used single-estate sugar cane, open fermentation, pot nonetheless distillation, and was matured in American oak casks. This launch was initially laid in oak casks in 1973 and was pulled from the cask in January 2025. Lastly, the expression was bottled at 62% ABV.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril opens with a billowing cloud of spiced figs, candy oak, date syrup, and Madagascan vanilla. Layers of cinnamon, uncooked maple syrup, and torched orange rinds add a ton of depth and complexity to the aroma profile, fleshing out the darkly candy base notes.
Palate: On the palate, you’re initially blasted with black cherries, moist espresso cake, truffle chocolate, and star anise. As soon as acclimated to these wealthy flavors, I discovered this rum to be surprisingly vibrant. It has a vigorous mouthfeel that teases each nook of the tongue, and after sitting with it for some time, it turns into impressively fruit-forward because the notes of cinnamon, cocoa, and mocha gently subside, permitting the black cherry and spiced fig notes to take heart stage.
End: It is a really lush and viscous rum with a hefty, spice-laden punch on its prolonged end. Cinnamon bark and peppercorns lead the cost as every sip crescendos earlier than closing with oak and hints of candied ginger.
Backside Line:
Not solely is that this the world’s solely rum tropically aged for greater than 5 many years, however given the issue of attaining such a feat, the liquid produced by this venture is exceedingly uncommon. Due to this excessive rarity, it must be mentioned that this bottle belongs solely within the arms of probably the most avid collectors, these intent on having fun with the bounty of riches present in each bottle. Appleton Estate’s The Supply represents a very singular expertise, not simply due to its shortage, however within the glass as effectively, the place it shines with an extremely dynamic textural profile and an impressively wealthy and sturdy taste palette.
Merely put, this isn’t simply the crown jewel of Appleton Estate; it represents a brand new pinnacle in tropically aged rum as a class.
Rating: 99/100
