Appleton Estate Rum

From the Heart of Jamaica

One sip of the bold, smooth, and aromatic flavors that make up the warm, comforting tones of liquid gold known as Appleton Estate Rums will ignite strong sensations within you. Appleton Estate is the oldest rum distillery in continuous operation in Jamaica and has been perfecting this fine craft since 1749. A winner of prizes and awards since 1862, Appleton Estate Rum is one of the best rums in the world.

Jamaican Rum

There was a time in Jamaica when close to 150 distilleries were in operation here. Rum production in Jamaica can be traced back to the 1650s when the English came ashore and began making rum from fermented sugarcane. Sugar cane plantations form a major part of Jamaica’s history and apart from the sugar trade, rum was traded with the Americas for commodities such as meat, salted fish, and livestock. 

As technology advanced, the number of distilleries in Jamaica dropped dramatically but the quality and quantity of rum production have continued to increase. Today, the Appleton Estate, located in the lush and fertile Nassau Valley of St. Elizabeth, operates a clean, green facility that controls all aspects of production by carefully farming their own sugarcane and utilizing the natural spring water resources of the land.

Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience

Joy Spence is the Master Blender at Appleton Estate. She is the first woman in the world to be awarded such a title and continues to lead Appleton Estate to win accolades around the world. The Appleton Estate offers a tour of their facility, the Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience, giving you the opportunity to see their process and taste their finely crafted line of rums. It’s a fun tour stop that mixes history, nature, and adventure in the cool hilly interior of the island. You’ll be given the chance to churn sugarcane and taste the rich molasses that produces the rum.

Appleton Estate boasts rums aged in oak barrels for a minimum of four years all the way to the rare 50-year-old rum crafted to celebrate Jamaica’s 50th year of independence. You’ll be lucky to get a sip of that since only 800 bottles were introduced to the market, but the readily available 21-year-old rum is a must-have for any fine rum connoisseur. It’s a powerful yet mellow experience rich in deep vanilla, orange, and warm spicy tones.

Appleton Rum Cocktails

Throughout bars, parties, and social gatherings in Jamaica, you’ll find a variety of Appleton rums as the rum of choice for mixing into cocktails. Your hotel’s rum punch welcome drink will undoubtedly be made with Appleton Rum. Be sure to try a mix of a local favorite: Appleton and Ting. Ting is a grapefruit soda made in Jamaica that’s the perfect accompaniment to your favorite spirit, and sipping this cocktail will mark the start of your immersion in the local culture.

Grab a bottle of any of the five varieties of Appleton Rum at a duty-free store on your return home. They make excellent gifts for discerning spirit mavens.