Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve Finest Jamaica Rum, 70 cl

Product Information

Am Gaumen dezent und harmonisch. Tropische Früchte, Banane, Ananas und Mangos tragen das Karamell voller Respekt über die Zunge. Edle Holznoten und feinste Gewürze sind stimmig eingebunden. I said at the time that I didn’t see much of a future for the Reserve Blend and it looks like I might have been right about that. Providing this new Reserve 8 is a genuine upgrade to the Reserve Blend. Or it might also be short-lived. Fans of the Appleton brand will find plenty to enjoy here, though it’s lighter on its toes than previous expressions. The nose feels fresh, with ample alcohol but plenty of fruity esters, some baking spice, and a swath of orange peel. Lightly oaky, there’s a note of chocolate in the nose as well. The palate is again quite light, almost thin at times, informed by lots of vanilla, chocolate, and orange peel. A touch of hogo— coming across with a slight hint of curry powder — provides some depth, though the overall impact remains muted on the finish — almost basic at times.

The consumer palate has become much more sophisticated. Appleton Estate’s range boasts some complex and elegant expressions, which inspire us to both educate and entertain on a higher level. This relaunch gives us the opportunity to illustrate Jamaica’s rich history and geography, as we reinvent our most iconic international brand to connect deeper with our existing consumers and appeal to new markets across the globe.” This is a fine rum for mixing, but it doesn’t have the gravitas that you might be seeking in a straight sipper — and which you might be used to from the rest of Appleton’s lineup. This line up came into place around 3 to 4 years ago? Maybe slightly longer. Before that line up we had Appleton Special, Appleton V/X, Appleton Aged 8 Years, Appleton Aged 12 Years and Appleton Aged 21 Years.

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In the glass we have a dark brown spirit with a copper/reddish hue. It is a classic aged rum colour. This is exactly what the company has done, condensing the “core” lineup into the following three bottles: Appleton Estate Signature Blend, Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve, and Appleton Estate 12 Year Rare Casks. These brands re-debuted in the spring with a new bottle shape as well—taller and slimmer than the previously squat Appleton bottles, but with some of the same shapely curves. It’s a thoroughly modern approach, as indicated by this quote from Marsha Lumley, marketing director of J Wray and Nephew Limited, Appleton’s parent company (itself owned by Campari):

This cookie is set by Rubicon Project to control synchronization of user identification and exchange of user data between various ad services. On the nose, the 8 Year Old Reserve is markedly more expressive and mature than the Signature, with notes of grilled pineapple, banana and ginger. There’s a more savory and slightly more wild dimension to this dram, with a greater oak presence and considerably more spice—the slight bump in proof makes itself felt in an appreciable way, lending heft to these flavors. This one strikes me as particularly fruity, with lots of pineapple, citrus and passionfruit notes, closing with a bit of supporting oak tannin. On the nose, my immediate impressions are ripe dessert banana and molasses, along with light grassiness and faint hints of oak. Sweet brown sugar is featured prominently on the palate, along with sweet, toasty baking spice and fruitiness that trends toward caramelized plantains or tostones. There’s a bright note that is something like lime citrus, and an overall profile that is nicely balanced between freshness and richness, while being slightly punchy as well. When the Appleton Aged 8 Years was available the rum which was available in Europe was a different blend to the one available in the US. As Appleton no longer wished to continue to produce two different rums for two different markets they decided to go with a blend more in keeping with the original Appleton Aged 8 Years in the US market. So effectively the rum known as Appleton Aged 8 Years in Europe was discontinued. A nice fruitiness as well with banana and some sweeter notes of green apple. Pretty much everything noted on the nose makes an appearance. The long spicy and oaked finish is wonderfully well balanced with the sweeter richer notes found in the rum.Appleton Estate 8 Reserve. Whenever a new bottle design is revealed in the rum world, it’s immediately met with suspicion of price increases and changes to the liquid. Downgrading of the liquid of course no rum gets better in time you must understand! Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie.

The finish is harmonious and long. Like a Caribbean sunset, everything slowly disappears little by little. Now most of the name changes were exactly that just changes to the name. However the “mid tier” Appleton Aged 8 Years was re-blended when it became the Appleton Reserve Blend. Still following? I’ll continue. Now the bottle has been updated and the new taller bottle is much more in keeping with a premium product as is the more stylised and more sparse label and design. It definitely looks more expensive and premium then the old Reserve Blend. Previously the Reserve Blend and Aged 8 Years rum were enclosed with a screw cap we now get a synthetic wooden topped cork stopper. Appleton Estate 8 is printed on the shiny copper coloured lid of the cork. I think the prominent 8 and the sleeker profile will attract more first time consumers. Sipped the rum has a little more “fire” in its belly than the nose might have suggested. That said it is still very sippable at 43% ABV. It’s certainly not “rough” in anyway.

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Im Abgang harmonisch und lang. Wie ein karibischer Sonnenuntergang, alles verschwindet langsam nach und nach. This isn’t “funky” high ester hogo heavy Jamaican rum. Appleton Estate rums are a very different beast to say Hampden or National Rums of Jamaica. If you want funk from Appelton Estate than Wray and Nephew White Overproof is what you want. If you want an afforadable and very nice every day sipper and a premium mixer – get this in your shopping trolley next time Tarquin takes you to Waitrose. Nosing Appleton Estate 8 Reserve will also remind you of Appleton’s further aged expressions. It has more refinement and elegance than the Signature blend. On the nose there are notes of Banana and Coconut and a little splash of Pineapple but you get a lot more toffee, caramel, banana bread and milk chocolate. There is also an English Breakfast tea note which reminds me of Worthy Park’s rums. Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve is a single estate aged Jamaica rum, taking inspiration from the vibrancy of Jamaica, its land and the joyful nature of its people. Crafted by Master Blender Joy Spence to commemorate Appleton Estate's 250th anniversary. A well-made simple rum without all the "funk / hogo" High Ester frippery. :-) Blended perfectly and harmoniously by Joy. For beginners, bartenders and whoever.