Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve Rum

Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve Rum shines when sipped neat or over a large ice cube, allowing its rich flavors to unfold gradually on the palate. It also excels in classic rum cocktails that let its complexity shine through, making it ideal for balmy summer evenings or cozy fall nights, paired with spicy jerk chicken or a decadent chocolate dessert.

Nose: Brown sugar, vanilla, and toasted oak lead the aroma, followed by hints of baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. There's a subtle fruitiness reminiscent of ripe banana and orange peel.

Palate: Smooth and well-balanced with a medium body. Caramel and toffee flavors are prominent, accompanied by notes of roasted nuts and dried fruits. The oak influence is present but not overpowering, lending a pleasant woody character. A touch of spice and citrus zest adds complexity.

Finish: Medium to long, with lingering warmth. The sweetness gradually fades, leaving behind hints of dark chocolate, coffee, and a subtle smokiness. A gentle spiciness and oak tannins provide a dry, slightly astringent ending that invites another sip.

Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve Rum is crafted in Jamaica's Nassau Valley using a blend of pot and column-still rums, aged for a minimum of 8 years in oak barrels. What sets this rum apart is Appleton's use of pure limestone-filtered water from a spring on the estate and their commitment to natural fermentation using proprietary cultured yeasts, which contributes to the rum's distinctive flavor profile.

• Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve Rum is made using water from a limestone spring that's filtered through the same rock formations that give Jamaica's Cockpit Country its unique, moon-like landscape. This natural filtration process imparts subtle mineral notes to the rum.
• The blend contains rums aged for a minimum of 8 years, but some of the spirits in the mix can be up to 20 years old. This practice, known as "marrying," allows the master blender to create a more complex flavor profile than the age statement suggests.
• Appleton Estate uses a unique distillation method called "small batch copper pot still," which involves collecting only the "heart of the run" - the purest portion of the distillate. This technique, rarely used in rum production, results in a smoother, more refined spirit.