Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12 Year Rum

Rating: 14/23 N: That typical Jamaican funk comes out. I get a bunch of wood with molasses behind it, but I also get a lot of tropical fruits, particularly banana, mango, and orange. There's something a bit vegetal in here too, suggesting the underlying spirit. There's a smoky suggestion of fireworks, but not much. Based on this nose alone, this seems like a fantastic rum! P: It's a dry rum with a lot of wood and a fair amount of fireworks. There's a lot of spice as well, with cinnamon being the dominant flavor, but clove being present as well. There are hints of maple and there's caramel, as well as some tropical fruit. A few minutes of air do good for it. It's fairly smooth and definitely tastes reasonably aged. It's a little bit on the thin and uncomplex side though, which is disappointing following the nose. It tastes a bit overoaked, at least given how flat most of the rest of the flavor is and how little punch the 43% ABV provides. It's fairly rich, but not really as full as I would expect after 12 years in the Caribbean. A nice finish or more flavorful barrels or something could be good for it. F: The spices and caramel really linger. There are elements of the wood and fireworks remaining as well. I can't say I'm a big fan of this. It's inoffensive and a great introduction to Jamaican rums, but it's kind of bland and weak. Sadly, the nose is the best part. It's a decent enough rum, but it's asking $40 when it really tastes like it should be going for closer to $25. For a lot less money, I'd buy Doorly's 12 instead and be happier. This is good for winter months though and I'd be happy having a glass of it by the fire. It's solid, but I'm going back and forth between either 13 to 14 or 14 to 15 on every sip. A 14 it is, I guess.

15: Based on a tiny sample, this has a nice fireworks smell that is smooth. The palate has the fireworks and more broadly is balanced with some nice complexity and a decent but not overwhelming amount of sweetness. It tastes mature and not artificially sweetened. It's a sipping rum for sure and while it doesn't blow my mind I do quite enjoy it. Definitely at least a 15.

Extremely pleasing, and good for sipping

Decided finally to taste this straight. Fruity and funky.

Sweet alternative to bourbon