I know this vid is 4 months old, but I’ll leave a comment for the algo anyhow. I blinded these two tonight and honestly it really helped me see why I want to keep owning both. In Ontario Canada, the difference is about £6 between them ($52 CAD for the 12; $42 CAD for the 8). So it’s not massively different. But the drinking experience is. A8 for me has a little more of that funk … not like a S&C or something but a little zip. A12 is just a great warm hug. I like that they hit different notes for me.
I’ve both of these Appletons as well as the Signature in my collection with backups of each and given the choice in this comparison I will go with the 12 yr. I am a big fan of Plantation and have a good many of their offerings and next week I believe the Xaymaca will prevail over the Appleton 12 yr.
Fantastic vid (as always!). In a pinch I’ll use Denizen 8 as my one rum for a one-rum Mai Tai but that’s probably about it. My normal specs are .5 Doctor Bird, .5 Hamilton 151, 1 Appleton 8. But the Mai Tai is the perfect cocktail to try any crazy rum combinations you can think of, and I think that’s awesome.
Watching this while tasting both. I have to say I prefer the Appleton 8 which I feel has more character, I like the fruity banana vibes and it punches out more. The extra wood is evident in the 12 but I feel it's more mellow and has less character about it. More of an after dinner sipper maybe. I still prefer the 8 to have neat.
Good evening. thank you for taking the time to compare, found your tasting very interesting. Although I use Appleton signation with Myers rum as topper, I love Clement Rhum for single Rhum Mia Tia. I mix from scratch, Trader Vic's recipe. Always fresh fruits and mint (lucky I live in Florida and grow my own mint). You are right the 8 year old is much more fruity and I am Scotch/Whiskey drinker, the 12 year old and up are much more as you said Toffee oaky taste. Thank you for your review. FYI I also like to use Hamilton 86 and St Johns Gold when I can get them, especially St. John's. are they still in business?
literally drank a bottle of 12 over a week in aruba. all different tropical mixers. it’s an incredibly good rum. looking forward to the 8. any cocktail suggestions greatly appreciated! enjoy your presentations a great deal!
Did you have the opportunity to try 10-Year Old Myrtle Bank? I’m looking for something to bring back to my son (a rum connoisseur) when I go to Jamaica, but won’t be tasting since I don’t like rum.
Here in the U.S (Ohio) Appleton Estate 12 is selling for $42.99. Just bought another bottle yesterday! Definitely a rum that would appeal to whiskey/Bourbon drinkers
I'm gonna try the 8 year old. I've passed on the 8 year, because where I'm at in the PNW of the US, the 8 year is more expensive than the 12 year. Both have jumped in price significantly. About a year ago I could get the 12 for about $35-$38. It's now going for $46+. BTW, those prices don't include a 20.5% alcohol tax, plus a $3.50/bottle liter tax. Looking for a less expensive replacement.
Honestly, for you US guys, I wouldn't bother with the 8yo as the 12 is so cheap. For us here in the UK and Europe, the 8yo makes sense, some £15/£20 saving. But if I was paying your prices for the 12, I deffo wouldn't bother with the 8. BUT...that said, I would probably buy Chairmans Reserve from St Lucia over both of them. Check out the Legacy. Video dropping soon.
best Mai Tai I've made was 2 parts Appleton 12 to 1 part St. James 12, a bit less than the standard amount of lime juice, a bit more than the standard amount of orgeat (no simple syrup), and Ferrand Dry Curacao. I wish I liked the Denizen 8 Mai Tai blend more cause it's a lot cheaper. I love Smith + Cross in a lemony rum and brandy punch or to use with banana desserts, but I just don't like that banana flavor in a Mai Tai. If I have to go with less aged rums I actually prefer a mix of lightly aged barbados with an overproof demerara and some angostura bitters and fresh pineapple juice to add more complexity.
I use an agricole rum from a Hawaiian distillery called Kuleana (?) with Appletons 12. Tasting Appletons 12 neat I can tell it’s not the most Jamaicany rum. An excellent rum though it is. I’ll be trying Denezens Merchants Reserve next, which is recommended by Smugglers Cove I believe.
Won’t get Hawaiian rums easily In the U.K., denizen is also non existent here too. merchants reserve is recommended by SC as Martin Cate had input into its blends (it comes mostly from 4 jamican distilleries and some non-Agricole Martinique rum - trader Vic didn’t use Agricole in his mai Tai’s) denizen is on my list for my next USA trip! I do have a Hawaiian Agricole (from Ko Hana on Oahu) which is tasty!
@@simonwatson3418 if you come out to Southern California I can show you where to find it in my area. Are you anywhere near the midlands? Derbyshire? Cheers!
@@bornetocrywolf5965 I’m actually a bit further south than that in Surrey (south west of London), I’ll be over in California in October next year, but only around LA and Anaheim. But I have a few trips to Florida before then so a couple of trips to total wine are on the cards 😁
I think I tried an Appleton Mai Tai a while back and I wasn't a fan. I'd say the Xaymaca is a much better choice for me but I haven't tried that yet. I need to try the Xaymaca and OFTD blend soon.
I actually like Signature better for mixing. More funk. But the best one rum mai tai is-by far-Denizen’s Merchants Reserve. Ok, it’s a blend and a blend specifically created to replicate Vic’s second adjusted formula. But wow is that seriously good.
I wish that made its way over to the UK. I always forget about it until someone mentions it…which isn’t actually that often which surprises me. Like the Mai Tai is a big Cocktail, I have a lot of US viewers, but very rarely does someone mention it. We have some great (Multi Country) Blended Rums in the UK, but weirdly none that immediately spring to mind to use in a Mai Tai.
@StevetheBarmanRumReviews I keep hearing how great Denizen is but I have yet to see it anywhere. I'm not sure if it's just not in my area or there's not a lot of distributed nationally. You probably don't hear too many people mention it because it's hard to find. That's definitely my case.
I have the 8 ($30) but haven't had the 12 ($45) yet. I've wondered if the 12 is worth the extra $15. I use the 8 in my favorite Mai Tai rum blend: 1 oz Appleton 8, 1/2 oz Smith & Cross, 1/2 oz Hamilton 86
This is just me here, but I’d say the 12 is a great step up IF you like neat sipping rum. Probs not in a Mai Tai though. But the 15 for me isn’t a good step up from the 12…not for the £££
I've been making cocktails for almost 2 years but slowly getting sucked into the Rum rabbit hole 😅 I have both of these bottles so it was really nice to do to a "play along at home" version haha. It's really helpful to know which flavours to look out for and to compare and contrast side by side. As I'm quite new to Rum the Smith & Cross had a bit too much funk (maybe I'll grow to love it) and I very much enjoyed a Mai Tai using only the 8. I picked up a bottle of Plantation OFTD last week though so I'm interested to see how that could elevate the drink! Cheers again for the content 🍻
@@StevetheBarmanRumReviews Definitely packs a punch and I'm not ready to drink it neat yet haha. Just made my first Mai Tai using specs you mentioned (45ml Xaymaca and 15ml OFTD) and it worked very nicely, adding a bit more of a punch and highlighting something in the Xaymaca that I missed when using it in a single Rum Mai Tai. What are your Mai Tai specs? I went with Smuggler's Cove, so 60ml Rum (45ml Xaymaca and 15ml OFTD), 15ml orange Curacao, 22.5ml lime juice, 7.5ml orgeat and 7.5ml simple. Might make it again with demerara syrup next time though.
I've got both on the shelf currently but I don't intend to restock the 8. If I'm mixing a cocktail the 8 just doesn't do it and sipping neat the 12 is more to my taste.
Steve, whaddaya think of Pussers 15y.o., not that Nelson's Blood but just Gayana Port Mourant's spirits driven. Is that worth that money? Delicious? (I spotted that in one of our stores at about 70 euros . Maybe review on that some stormy autumn day?Cheers Stevy🤝🥂
Very good Rum. Bit too much on it for me personally. But deffo one for the Whisky crowd that love Rum too. Have spoken about it a lot ver the last few years. But considering my bottle i bought back in 2021, and it's still 3/4 full, tells you all about what I think of it.
The rum community needs a champion to stand against good-meaning rum makers turning their delicious rums into rummy whiskeys. You could be that champion. Reject the wood! Defend the funk! Be that champion!
Appleton 12 is usually between $45 and $50 in the US. I have never seen it below $40. Must have been a mistake. Your price on Appleton 8 is pretty much average. I can always find it for $30. I would have bought every bottle of Appleton 12 they had if it was mispriced at $34.
@@0529mpb Take a look at the websites for big liquor stores in Texas. Both Total Wine and Spec's regularly sell Appleton 12 for around $34-35 while Appleton 8 is usually around $30-32 at "normal" pricing.
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.
📔 DOWNLOAD MY FREE RUM eBOOK; stevethebarman.com/ebook (Updated as of January 2024) 📔
I know this vid is 4 months old, but I’ll leave a comment for the algo anyhow. I blinded these two tonight and honestly it really helped me see why I want to keep owning both. In Ontario Canada, the difference is about £6 between them ($52 CAD for the 12; $42 CAD for the 8). So it’s not massively different. But the drinking experience is. A8 for me has a little more of that funk … not like a S&C or something but a little zip. A12 is just a great warm hug. I like that they hit different notes for me.
7 months and here I am doing the same
I ended up with some of the 15 cause the LC was on strike 😂 I'm drinking some now with Canada Dry and it's delicious
8 year not much as a sipper but amazing choice for cocktails. 12 perfect for sipping! Cheers!
Thanks for the comparison.
Spot on. Not a Whisky drinker so I much prefer the 8. Mind you my fave Jamaican Rums are white, unaged & overproof!
First Mai Tai I ever made, I think I did a 50/50 split base of Appleton 8 and 12 and it was awesome.
That's what I'm planning to do. I got Appleton 12 and already had Appleton 8.
I’ve both of these Appletons as well as the Signature in my collection with backups of each and given the choice in this comparison I will go with the 12 yr. I am a big fan of Plantation and have a good many of their offerings and next week I believe the Xaymaca will prevail over the Appleton 12 yr.
oooooh...Today's the day!!!
Absolutely love the Appleton 8! Sits on a sweet spot for me agewise. Probably wouldn’t use it in a Mai tai however, just not enough funk
Fantastic vid (as always!). In a pinch I’ll use Denizen 8 as my one rum for a one-rum Mai Tai but that’s probably about it. My normal specs are .5 Doctor Bird, .5 Hamilton 151, 1 Appleton 8. But the Mai Tai is the perfect cocktail to try any crazy rum combinations you can think of, and I think that’s awesome.
I usually have both on stock. The 8 for mixing and the 12 for sipping (yes I'm also a whiskey drinker)
Watching this while tasting both. I have to say I prefer the Appleton 8 which I feel has more character, I like the fruity banana vibes and it punches out more. The extra wood is evident in the 12 but I feel it's more mellow and has less character about it. More of an after dinner sipper maybe. I still prefer the 8 to have neat.
Good evening. thank you for taking the time to compare, found your tasting very interesting. Although I use Appleton signation with Myers rum as topper, I love Clement Rhum for single Rhum Mia Tia. I mix from scratch, Trader Vic's recipe. Always fresh fruits and mint (lucky I live in Florida and grow my own mint). You are right the 8 year old is much more fruity and I am Scotch/Whiskey drinker, the 12 year old and up are much more as you said Toffee oaky taste. Thank you for your review. FYI I also like to use Hamilton 86 and St Johns Gold when I can get them, especially St. John's. are they still in business?
I bought appleton signature as my first rum. Its ok I guess. Similar to whiskey imo. What would I be getting with the 8 or 12 year?
literally drank a bottle of 12 over a week in aruba. all different tropical mixers. it’s an incredibly good rum. looking forward to the 8. any cocktail suggestions greatly appreciated! enjoy your presentations a great deal!
Appleton 12 is my preference as I am a whiskey drinker. The 8 year is good too but I’ll stick with the 12 year. Cheers!
Did you have the opportunity to try 10-Year Old Myrtle Bank? I’m looking for something to bring back to my son (a rum connoisseur) when I go to Jamaica, but won’t be tasting since I don’t like rum.
Nice, very nice comparison👍
Here in the U.S (Ohio) Appleton Estate 12 is selling for $42.99. Just bought another bottle yesterday! Definitely a rum that would appeal to whiskey/Bourbon drinkers
I'm gonna try the 8 year old. I've passed on the 8 year, because where I'm at in the PNW of the US, the 8 year is more expensive than the 12 year. Both have jumped in price significantly. About a year ago I could get the 12 for about $35-$38. It's now going for $46+. BTW, those prices don't include a 20.5% alcohol tax, plus a $3.50/bottle liter tax. Looking for a less expensive replacement.
Honestly, for you US guys, I wouldn't bother with the 8yo as the 12 is so cheap. For us here in the UK and Europe, the 8yo makes sense, some £15/£20 saving. But if I was paying your prices for the 12, I deffo wouldn't bother with the 8. BUT...that said, I would probably buy Chairmans Reserve from St Lucia over both of them. Check out the Legacy. Video dropping soon.
I prefer the 8 over the 12 and the 15 over the 21
Just checked here in Chicago I’m paying $45 for the 12. I blend that 50/50 with Plantation original dark for my mai tai. Yum
best Mai Tai I've made was 2 parts Appleton 12 to 1 part St. James 12, a bit less than the standard amount of lime juice, a bit more than the standard amount of orgeat (no simple syrup), and Ferrand Dry Curacao.
I wish I liked the Denizen 8 Mai Tai blend more cause it's a lot cheaper.
I love Smith + Cross in a lemony rum and brandy punch or to use with banana desserts, but I just don't like that banana flavor in a Mai Tai.
If I have to go with less aged rums I actually prefer a mix of lightly aged barbados with an overproof demerara and some angostura bitters and fresh pineapple juice to add more complexity.
I use an agricole rum from a Hawaiian distillery called Kuleana (?) with Appletons 12. Tasting Appletons 12 neat I can tell it’s not the most Jamaicany rum. An excellent rum though it is. I’ll be trying Denezens Merchants Reserve next, which is recommended by Smugglers Cove I believe.
Won’t get Hawaiian rums easily
In the U.K., denizen is also non existent here too. merchants reserve is recommended by SC as Martin Cate had input into its blends (it comes mostly from 4 jamican distilleries and some non-Agricole Martinique rum - trader Vic didn’t use Agricole in his mai Tai’s) denizen is on my list for my next USA trip!
I do have a Hawaiian Agricole (from Ko Hana on Oahu) which is tasty!
@@simonwatson3418 if you come out to Southern California I can show you where to find it in my area. Are you anywhere near the midlands? Derbyshire? Cheers!
@@bornetocrywolf5965 I’m actually a bit further south than that in Surrey (south west of London), I’ll be over in California in October next year, but only around LA and Anaheim. But I have a few trips to Florida before then so a couple of trips to total wine are on the cards 😁
@@simonwatson3418 have a great time🍻
Have you tried B13 rum?
I think I tried an Appleton Mai Tai a while back and I wasn't a fan. I'd say the Xaymaca is a much better choice for me but I haven't tried that yet. I need to try the Xaymaca and OFTD blend soon.
I actually like Signature better for mixing. More funk. But the best one rum mai tai is-by far-Denizen’s Merchants Reserve. Ok, it’s a blend and a blend specifically created to replicate Vic’s second adjusted formula. But wow is that seriously good.
I wish that made its way over to the UK. I always forget about it until someone mentions it…which isn’t actually that often which surprises me. Like the Mai Tai is a big Cocktail, I have a lot of US viewers, but very rarely does someone mention it. We have some great (Multi Country) Blended Rums in the UK, but weirdly none that immediately spring to mind to use in a Mai Tai.
@StevetheBarmanRumReviews I keep hearing how great Denizen is but I have yet to see it anywhere. I'm not sure if it's just not in my area or there's not a lot of distributed nationally. You probably don't hear too many people mention it because it's hard to find. That's definitely my case.
Love the 8 in a coke, its a constant restock. For sipping I pick the 12.
I have the 8 ($30) but haven't had the 12 ($45) yet. I've wondered if the 12 is worth the extra $15. I use the 8 in my favorite Mai Tai rum blend: 1 oz Appleton 8, 1/2 oz Smith & Cross, 1/2 oz Hamilton 86
This is just me here, but I’d say the 12 is a great step up IF you like neat sipping rum. Probs not in a Mai Tai though. But the 15 for me isn’t a good step up from the 12…not for the £££
I've been making cocktails for almost 2 years but slowly getting sucked into the Rum rabbit hole 😅
I have both of these bottles so it was really nice to do to a "play along at home" version haha. It's really helpful to know which flavours to look out for and to compare and contrast side by side. As I'm quite new to Rum the Smith & Cross had a bit too much funk (maybe I'll grow to love it) and I very much enjoyed a Mai Tai using only the 8. I picked up a bottle of Plantation OFTD last week though so I'm interested to see how that could elevate the drink!
Cheers again for the content 🍻
Let us know what you think of the OFTD. That’s a beast! 😍
@@StevetheBarmanRumReviews Definitely packs a punch and I'm not ready to drink it neat yet haha.
Just made my first Mai Tai using specs you mentioned (45ml Xaymaca and 15ml OFTD) and it worked very nicely, adding a bit more of a punch and highlighting something in the Xaymaca that I missed when using it in a single Rum Mai Tai.
What are your Mai Tai specs? I went with Smuggler's Cove, so 60ml Rum (45ml Xaymaca and 15ml OFTD), 15ml orange Curacao, 22.5ml lime juice, 7.5ml orgeat and 7.5ml simple. Might make it again with demerara syrup next time though.
I've got both on the shelf currently but I don't intend to restock the 8. If I'm mixing a cocktail the 8 just doesn't do it and sipping neat the 12 is more to my taste.
i am currently completly annihilated on the8 year old so I respecfuclty disagree :)
Steve, whaddaya think of Pussers 15y.o., not that Nelson's Blood but just Gayana Port Mourant's spirits driven. Is that worth that money? Delicious? (I spotted that in one of our stores at about 70 euros . Maybe review on that some stormy autumn day?Cheers Stevy🤝🥂
Very good Rum. Bit too much on it for me personally. But deffo one for the Whisky crowd that love Rum too. Have spoken about it a lot ver the last few years. But considering my bottle i bought back in 2021, and it's still 3/4 full, tells you all about what I think of it.
🙏@@StevetheBarmanRumReviews
The rum community needs a champion to stand against good-meaning rum makers turning their delicious rums into rummy whiskeys. You could be that champion. Reject the wood! Defend the funk! Be that champion!
I live in Texas, and it astounds me that Appleton 12 is only $1 more than Appleton 8 ($33 vs $34) around here.
Appleton 12 is usually between $45 and $50 in the US. I have never seen it below $40. Must have been a mistake. Your price on Appleton 8 is pretty much average. I can always find it for $30. I would have bought every bottle of Appleton 12 they had if it was mispriced at $34.
@@0529mpb Take a look at the websites for big liquor stores in Texas. Both Total Wine and Spec's regularly sell Appleton 12 for around $34-35 while Appleton 8 is usually around $30-32 at "normal" pricing.
Nice vid!
Mai Tai Rum Blend: App 12, El Dorado 15, OFTD
Sippers for Appleton Core Range: Appleton 21 > 12 > 15 > 8 > Signature
The 12 is $45 at VA State liquor stores and the 8 is only a couple dollars less, so for me it's an easy decision 😂
The best rabbit holes obviously lead to Jamaican rum 😉
Appleton 8, to me, tastes like McCallan 15 and Monkey Shoulder.
Damn! Just ordered the 12 year old on Amazon for 37€.
Never drink Old monk. It's the worst rum
Steve,I,have,to,add,I,grew,up,in,Savannah,ga,in,thr1960s.for,my,parents,and,me,,in,high,schoool,yes,,I,drank,as,a,teenager,frequently,at,at,home.rum,for,us,was,Bacardi,white,rum.
It,wasn’t,until,I,went,to,Haiti,as,a,volunteer,diver,in,Cap,Haitien,on,a,research,project,that,Ilearned,of,other,ru,ms,specifically,rhum,Barbancourt,I,loved,them,particularly,the5,star
What about the 21 year old Appleton’s ?
Too expensive for the channels. I only focus on Rum for around £50/$60/€60 or less. It’s my niche. Even the Appleton 15 doesn’t fit that.
Appleton 12 for a one rum maitai…
I'd take the 8 year old over the 12 anyday
Good shout 👌
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.
neither. both are crap.
It's 120 swissfrancs for the 12 year one 🥲😂