Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend

Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend 

Earlier this year Appleton Estate released this special limited edition rum to commemorate Joy Spence’s 20th Anniversary as the company’s Master Blender (the first woman in the industry to earn that title). The rum is comprised of a blend of 25 to 35 year old rums, the first was stored in 1981, the year she started with the company. The second is from her favorite pot still. These two rums are blended with others to create this dynamic blend for the connoisseur to explore.

Appearance/Presentation

The rum comes in a display box with the decanter nestled tightly inside. The color of the rum holds steady in the decanter and glass displaying a rich mahogany liquid laced with copper highlights. Swirling the rum creates a medium band around the glass that slowly thickens before releasing equally thick legs. As these legs begin beading up, a second round of legs form and descend before slowly evaporating.

Nose

On the nose I detected notes of light oak, caramel, butterscotch, orange peel, ginger, lemon, earthy vanilla and cooked bananas.

Palate

The first sip of the rum lays an oak tannin rich base, while spicy notes of ginger, baking spices, cinnamon, and pepper nip around the edges. Additional sips unveil the butterscotch, banana, and caramel from the aroma but also reveal notes of Kona coffee bean, dried leather, toffee, orange zest, roasted almonds and charred oak that transmutes into smoky tobacco leaf during this rums long satisfying finish.

Review

By the time I had the opportunity to sit down with a dram of this rum a good bit of hype had been built up about it. In my humble opinion it was well deserved on every level.

The dynamic flavor profile is best sipped, savored, and enjoyed slowly. This rum is a worthy tribute to one of the rum industry’s modern pioneer who helped elevate Appleton rum to the place it has achieved in today’s market.

Bottled at 45 ABV the higher proof compliments and amplifies the flavors never overwhelming the palate. Available for a limited time, the rum is a worthy addition to anyone who wants to add something special to their bar.

-Rum Review by Mr. Paul Senft- 

My name is Paul Senft - Rum Reviewer, Tasting host, Judge and Writer. My exploration of Rums began by learning to craft Tiki cocktails for friends. I quickly learned that not all rums are created equally and that the uniqueness of the spirit can be as varied as the locales they are from. This inspired me to travel with my wife around the Caribbean, Central America, and United States visiting distilleries and learning about how each one creates their rums. I have also had the pleasure of learning from bar tenders, brand ambassadors, and other enthusiasts from around the world; each one providing their own unique point of view, adding another chapter to the modern story of rum. The desire to share this information led me to create www.RumJourney.com where I share my experiences and reviews in the hopes that I would inspire others in their own explorations. It is my wish in the pages of “Got Rum?” to be your host and provide you with my impressions of rums available in the world market. Hopefully my tasting notes will inspire you to tr y the rums and make your own opinions. The world is full of good rums and the journey is always best experienced with others.