After returning from a great holiday with close friends I realised it was time to review Appleton Estate Signature Blend 40%. After all I spend so much time with it when away it seems rude. It's a "must have" rum for the perfect Mai Tai and a great value mixer.
Formally Appleton Estate VX, now it goes by "Signature Blend" but the recipe has been kept the same.
It’s the entry level rum of the Appleton range making it great value for money from one of the oldest distilleries in the world.
About Appleton Estate
Appleton Estate is over 270 years old, produced in Nassau Valley Jamaica. It’s a unique landscape know as a "Karst", which is a collection of limestone hill formations, caves and underground water sources. This allows Appleton to harvest their own sugar cane (from its 11,000 acre estate with 10 varieties) and source fresh limestone filtered spring water from all around them.
The first distillation of Appleton was in 1749. Currently the expressions are expertly crafted by master blender Joy Spence, the first female master blender in the spirits industry (appointed in 1997).
The Signature Blend is a combination of pot and column still rums blended together, then aged in white oak ex-bourbon barrels. It's hand selected by Joy and her team for blending. The Signature Blend is a mixture of 15 different rum marks, aged up to 10 years, averaging 4. The final blend is rested further in new barrels for a couple of months. This allows the rum to combine and smooth out before it is bottled.
The bottle feels ergonomic to hold but this is the older bottle which is gradually being phased out. It's replacement is a similar but narrower version. Both of which visually 'nod' back to the pot stills that generate their flavourful rum.
Appleton Estate Signature Blend Review
Smell: The Signature Blend smells delicious! It starts with a light, sweet sugar which builds into a darker molasses smell. You are then quickly hit with top tropical fruity notes. Oranges and apricots stand out the most for me but there's also banana in there. The final is more of a light pepper and unmistakable funky note that defines Jamaican rum from other countries.
Appearance: A very lightly coloured rum with a tint of straw-like yellow coming through. Sporting no legs, the appearance masks the flavour profile it produces.
Taste: While this rum doesn't match its smell it is still a relatively smooth and light rum. I don't get the tropical notes but the pepper and funk come through intently.
Rating: 4/5... A "must have" rum for the perfect Mai Tai.
Truly a great value rum. Arguably a strong all rounder and solid entry level. Goes great in cocktails and mixers but not recommended for sipping.
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