Nose- nose has a pungent yeastiness about it. No doubt from the higher esther's that Jamaican rum is known for. There is initially that stewed fruit aroma, a good bit of smokiness, and then something wonderfully floral. Reminds me of spring time flowers. Hibiscus maybe? Palate- thinner than what I was expecting. I love the chewy richness of the Appleton 15 Black River Casks, but this does not seem as rich. It is perhaps a bit more lively, layered, and more exploratory. Not to say that this is bad, it was just unexpected, as I had pegged this bottle to be more of Appleton 15 punched up a notch. Brown sugar, caramel, and rich vanilla bean give way to some nice coffee notes on the palate. I also get some of those hibiscus flavors along with green banana and some ripe pineapple This is a wonderful sipping rum that I grow more fond of with every sip. There is tremendous taste quality inside this bottle. Finish- finish is long and oaky. It borders on being a bit too tannic and dry. Reminds me more of older bourbon/whiskey than it does of rum. Where older rum usually has a musty, funkiness to it, this is not barrel funky, but rather a bit woody. I would have liked some more of those sugars like molasses, and brown sugar than wood at the end. Not a total let down, but perhaps where I find my biggest flaw with it. Overall- Appleton 21 Nassau Casks Limited is of course a delicious rum. It is a quality bottle worthy of any accolade that might come its way. It is not what one might expect from a 21 year old rum (yeasty, funky, fruity, rich, sugary). Instead it is more what one might expect from a 21 yr old whiskey- oaky, a bit tannic, but without richness. I like the bottle and hope as I explore it I find more to it as it opens. Comparatively though, I think the 15yr Black River Casks hit more of what I was looking for. I was hoping this to be like Appleton Joy (perhaps one of the best spirits I have ever had the pleasure to sample). It was not that. Considering the price tag, for now I will go with the 15 yr version.