This was the first ‘proper’ rum I ever bought a few years back. We’re not running an Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Casks review just for nostalgia’s sake though, instead we’ll investigate whether I would be happy to buy it again in the future, or if it’s a rum best forgotten.
Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Casks Review
Jamaica’s Appleton Estate Distillery has been around for yonks. 1749 to be exact, as it proudly displays on its bottle. Given that it’s so well established, you’d be right in assuming that it’s doing something right. While not to my taste, their cheaper signature blend is very popular at an often sub-£20 price point.
Had I tasted the Appleton Estate Signature first, it’s unlikely that I’d have bought this. As mentioned though, the Appleton Estate 12-year-old was the first ‘sipping’ rum I ever bought.
Stood in the spirit aisle in Tesco, my reasoning was simple, read a couple of reviews, discount anything that mentioned “harshness” or “good for mixing”, and then buy the one with the biggest discount. At the time, this ticked all the boxes (although as far as I know Appleton 12 is sadly no longer available at Tesco). I figured that if I cheaped out on trying my first ‘sipping’ rum, I would realise this and still feel the need to buy a more expensive bottle if I didn’t like it. By going in at the higher end of what the supermarkets had to offer instead, I guessed that I’d get a better idea of whether or not ‘sipping’ rums are for me in general.
How Much is Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Casks?
Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Casks usually hovers around £35 in the UK. You won’t really find it at any cheaper than £30, but it can often be found higher than £40. To be honest, even at the higher price, Rare Casks is reasonable value. If you stumble upon a £30 price tag though, it quickly becomes one of the best rums you can pick up for the money.
Is Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Casks the Same as Rare Blend?
Yes it’s the same as the old blend, with the youngest rum in there being 12 years old. There’s some even older rums in there too. Appleton Estate just introduced a bit of a brand revamp, with redesigned bottles and such. The new bottles look great and add to the premium feel. As far as I know, the only ‘new’ drink they’re offering is the 8 year old in the revised line-up.
On the Nose
Vanilla, leather, and Bonfire Night smoke. Not sure where that smokiness comes from, but it’s definitely there. It’s by no means strong, but adds a lovely warming element to the sweet, leathery nose. This smells like the rum you imagined as a kid when you ate rum and raisin Dairy Milk
Is Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Casks Suitable for Sipping?
Oh, hell yes. That slight smoky note comes through and leaves a beautiful lingering finish. What you get on the nose, you find in the taste. This is a rum to be savoured. It’s creamy and sweet without having to be dosed up to the eyeballs with added sugar like some other rums. You may disagree if you have a particularly sweet tooth, as this smoky sweetness is quite subtle and restrained.
Is Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Casks for Mixing?
Get out. This stuff’s too good for drowning in soft drinks. That said, I’m sure it’d be fine to mix with. What a waste though.
Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Casks Review – Verdict
Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Casks was my first love, and as such, holds a special place in my liver. I think I was lucky though. I didn’t realise at the time, but my initial system for choosing my first sipping rum was flawed. Going for the more expensive rums in the supermarket doesn’t guarantee a good result, as I soon found out when picking up Kirk and Sweeney 12-Year-Old from Sainsbury’s.
When it comes to supermarket rums, Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Casks is the daddy. You’ll honestly struggle to find better for the price.
While you’re in the area, why not take a look at this Duppy Share review at the same time?
You’ve probably heard of Diplomatico at a similar price too. Here’s a review of the Reserva.
Mount Gay is Appleton’s age-old rival. See what I thought to their equivalent, Mount Gay XO.
Need some decent non-alcoholic drinks? Check out this review on these spicy Chillio Soda offerings.