Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12 Year Rum

On the nose it has tons of caramel and brown sugar with vanilla bean. Also apparent is a banana being fried in sugar mixed with a light cocoa and pineapple. Very aromatic and rich. The taste is very different to the nosing with a very spice forward first sip that has a very strong black molasses note. The flavor lasts an eternity with the molasses becoming very potent. Further sips provide evidence of the vanilla and caramel but the fruits are difficult to pick up. The molasses note continues to come through. This rum has the spiciness to enhance any rum cocktail and can be drank neat but, beware the bitter note from the molasses note. Nose: 3.75/5 Taste: 3.25/5 Overall: Overall 3.5/5 Repurchase: Yes Type: Daily Drinker/Cocktail Mixer

This version of Appleton 12 Rare Blend is new, and features a cork stopper, and a Joy Spence signature on the bottle. I gave the former blend 5 stars. Despite its metal top, it was wonderful: phenolic, deep and complex, and it was considerably less sweet than this disappointing blend, which has no punch, and less complexity and depth (and too much sugar). Please bring back the old Appleton 12 Rare Blend, Joy.

Getting more into rum with the prices of bourbon these days. This one is a funky mollases with tobacco notes. Very light with medium finish of bitter fruits.