Style: Single Marque Pot Still Jamaican Rum
Age: 25 years
Proof: 126 (63% ABV)
Region: Jamaica
Jamaica’s Appleton Estate is one of the most recognizable names in rum and the distillery’s reputation is well earned. They’re one of the longest-operating rum producers in the world and their core lineup of rums is a staple in any bar. The gem of the Appleton Estate line is the Hearts Collection where Master Blender Dr. Joy Spence gets to showcase the distillery’s finest rums with help from rum impresario Luca Gargano. This series of highly aged, single marque vintages showcases the distillery at its absolute best. The latest addition to the lineup to the Hearts Collection is the 1998 — a 25-year-old, single-marque, pot-distilled rum distilled and aged in Jamaica.
Of this release, Dr. Spence says, “The 1998 release is very special, not only for its incredible depth and age but also because it pays homage to one of the most cherished releases of my career.” She adds, “Hearts Collection 1998 closely replicates one of the rare marques used in the Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend.”
We’ve covered past releases of the Hearts Collection here on the Educated Barfly and loved every sip. Let’s see how the latest stacks up!
Tasting notes
It’s immediately apparent that this is a heavily aged rum. It’s dark and visibly viscous. On the nose, Appleton Estate’s classic note of tropical fruit and orange zest is present, but the most prominent aromas are of dark chocolate, rich vanilla, and coffee. Sipping the rum reveals a plethora of barrel flavors — chocolate, leather, tobacco, and coffee. There is surprisingly little tannic bitterness on the palate. The orange and ripe fruit notes are still present and provide a balance to the notes from barrel maturation. The finish is long and warm with a rich vanilla quality accented by citrus and clove.
Final thoughts
Like the rest of the rums in Appleton Estate’s Hearts Collection, this 1998 bottling is a stunner. It’s full-flavored, rich, well-aged, and best of all balanced. Anyone who appreciates a good pot still Jamaican rum will find a lot to love here. Hearts Collection 1998 is a blend of 19, 25-year-old barrels, so it’s limited to 2,706 bottles globally. If you have the means, don’t hesitate to pick a bottle up when it drops this August.
