I'd score the Appleton 12 a touch higher as well as a sipping rum. Barbados rums are still my favorites after trying rums from just about everywhere. I will say that this rum paired with Mexican Coke and a squeeze of fresh lime makes a fantastic rum and coke!
To your point on rums being mainly used for mixers: Special Event episode idea - 1 cocktail recipe with different rums see which one is best as a mixer!! Also, always great fun seeing you all agree on a score but continue to argue haha
Always glad to see you reviewing a Jamaican rum. I bought a bottle of Worthy Park 109 recently and even the first "neck pour" was so rich and delicious. With options like that, with higher proof and lower cost, I sort of agree with Jules and Dutch on value for Appleton 12, though I understand the tradeoff with age stated vs not.
I’d score the Appleton 12 higher for value and drinkability although my love is delicious peated scotch! I do enjoy Appleton in the odd Toki drink I have. Mostly I dr
I was mixing some rum drinks at a friend of mines vacation home, and I had three different Jamaican rums to play around with. This was one of them. I was mostly mixing cocktails, but I also made sure to try them neat. I have to say that the Appleton 12 was pretty underwhelming, especially for being $45. It was fairly one note, and just not very complex or challenging. I had Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black and Smith and Cross to compare. I love the banana funk that you get on the aroma of the Hamilton, but the palate and finish don't deliver, only providing a lot of ethanol up front and maybe some vanilla and banana notes on the mid palate and finish. Of the three, Smith and Cross was probably my favorite. It delivered some more intensity and a longer finish, probably due to the higher proof, but the flavors were just a mix of a few kitchen spices. These are all great to mix with, but I would expect more out of a sipping spirit. For as much as people talk about Jamaican rum being funky and punchy, I'm just left feeling underwhelmed. I'm going to have to see if there are any Jamaican rums that can deliver on that promise of pungent banana rum funk, because none of these are doing it for me. I can see why you guys enjoyed the Four Square 2008 so much. I remember that one really packing a lot more flavor and complexity by comparison. It just wasn't a flavor profile that agreed with my own tastes.
If you can handle Smith and Cross neat, and you want "funkier" Jamaican rums, I think you should try unaged stuff. Try Rum Bar Overproof or Wray & Nephew white overproof. Unaged "white rums" can have a more intense "personality" to them, especially at high proof like those two are. If the "pungent" notes are what you're after and you like those unaged Jamaican overproof rums, you could venture into even stranger territory with some of the unaged Haitian "Clairin" rums. I bought a bottle of Clairin Vaval and it smelled like exhaust fumes and tomato sauce lol (but actually delicious on the palate if you've got a bit of an open mind)
Great review! Do you all have a link to your scoring card so I can do it with you? I can always make my own but curious 😉...if you can share yours with us.
I recognize that Appleton 12 funk. If anybody cares they use the same bottle with Jura scotch, and the Jura 10 has that same funkiness as A12. Must be a coincidence?
I got a bottle of the 12 year and it must be a bad bottle. It has none of those notes you mention. It literally tastes like rancid wood. It's repugnant. Absolutely the worst tasting spirit I have ever sipped.
Cool review! You should do some Hampden Estate rums at some point - their entire core range is excellent (and would make for a fun drinkthrough).
I love Appleton 12. One of my Favorite rums and a go to in Mai Tai's with a more funky Jamaican rum
I'd score the Appleton 12 a touch higher as well as a sipping rum. Barbados rums are still my favorites after trying rums from just about everywhere. I will say that this rum paired with Mexican Coke and a squeeze of fresh lime makes a fantastic rum and coke!
To your point on rums being mainly used for mixers: Special Event episode idea - 1 cocktail recipe with different rums see which one is best as a mixer!! Also, always great fun seeing you all agree on a score but continue to argue haha
The best bang for buck I've found readily available on the shelf is Flor de Cana. It can sip, shoot, or mix all for under $20.
As a testament to its drinkability it disappears faster than any other rum I've bought.
Nice to see a rum review. You need to do an El Dorado DrinkThrough next.
Always glad to see you reviewing a Jamaican rum. I bought a bottle of Worthy Park 109 recently and even the first "neck pour" was so rich and delicious. With options like that, with higher proof and lower cost, I sort of agree with Jules and Dutch on value for Appleton 12, though I understand the tradeoff with age stated vs not.
Gotta try the Plantation rums!
I have an unopened bottle of Appleton Estates 12 I purchased in Jamaica in 1995. I wonder how it tastes???
I agree with your scores for the most part but drinkability and value are higher for me. I would probably be at an 80.
Hampden hlcf if possible please. Been on the fence about purchasing due to price compared to age statement but am very tempted
I’d score the Appleton 12 higher for value and drinkability although my love is delicious peated scotch! I do enjoy Appleton in the odd Toki drink I have. Mostly I dr
We need more rum reviews!
In other news, dillin went outside and touched grass... once in his life. 😂
My favorite rum!
I was mixing some rum drinks at a friend of mines vacation home, and I had three different Jamaican rums to play around with. This was one of them. I was mostly mixing cocktails, but I also made sure to try them neat. I have to say that the Appleton 12 was pretty underwhelming, especially for being $45. It was fairly one note, and just not very complex or challenging.
I had Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black and Smith and Cross to compare. I love the banana funk that you get on the aroma of the Hamilton, but the palate and finish don't deliver, only providing a lot of ethanol up front and maybe some vanilla and banana notes on the mid palate and finish. Of the three, Smith and Cross was probably my favorite. It delivered some more intensity and a longer finish, probably due to the higher proof, but the flavors were just a mix of a few kitchen spices. These are all great to mix with, but I would expect more out of a sipping spirit.
For as much as people talk about Jamaican rum being funky and punchy, I'm just left feeling underwhelmed. I'm going to have to see if there are any Jamaican rums that can deliver on that promise of pungent banana rum funk, because none of these are doing it for me.
I can see why you guys enjoyed the Four Square 2008 so much. I remember that one really packing a lot more flavor and complexity by comparison. It just wasn't a flavor profile that agreed with my own tastes.
If you can handle Smith and Cross neat, and you want "funkier" Jamaican rums, I think you should try unaged stuff. Try Rum Bar Overproof or Wray & Nephew white overproof. Unaged "white rums" can have a more intense "personality" to them, especially at high proof like those two are.
If the "pungent" notes are what you're after and you like those unaged Jamaican overproof rums, you could venture into even stranger territory with some of the unaged Haitian "Clairin" rums. I bought a bottle of Clairin Vaval and it smelled like exhaust fumes and tomato sauce lol (but actually delicious on the palate if you've got a bit of an open mind)
Worthy Park & Hampden have better funkier options imo
Snag the MM The Heart series. Need some bourbon reviews from you boys, even if Dusty Dillion is there.
Blame my teenage years, the reason why i can't do RUM now a days.
Why did it take 4 years for this?
Great review!
Do you all have a link to your scoring card so I can do it with you? I can always make my own but curious 😉...if you can share yours with us.
we're working on a journal/notebook with our score sheets as pages. Stay tuned!
Have any of you tried any of the appleton hearts collection
Bacardi 10 is very good and around $40
Mix 12yr Appleton? In what?? The only thing I can think of is maybe a Mai tai. But this is more of a sipper than a mixer.
I recognize that Appleton 12 funk. If anybody cares they use the same bottle with Jura scotch, and the Jura 10 has that same funkiness as A12. Must be a coincidence?
Mostly I drink high end peated scotch. Far prefer!
Too much bullshit...
I got a bottle of the 12 year and it must be a bad bottle. It has none of those notes you mention. It literally tastes like rancid wood. It's repugnant. Absolutely the worst tasting spirit I have ever sipped.