Appleton Estate Double Cask 8-Year

Tonight’s Rum, Appleton Estate 8 Double Cask! I’ve seen many posts on the Rum Club Canada page on Facebook and most were positive, so that gives me hope. Appleton Signature V/X has been my house rum for years, and this one from all reports should be a step up. I only have this bottle because BC liquor brought it in during their Specialty Liquor Sale in June. Thanks goes to my friend Al for picking it up for me while I was out of town! Thanks!

My glass is dark, as if the rum was aged for those 8 years in heavily charred oak, or maybe charred normally, but the the double cask is the kicker, making this spirit rich in colour. I like the way it looks. The nose begins with orange peel and acetone or pure alcohol. It’s sweet with hints of pineapple and honey. It doesn’t have a familiar musk Jamaican rums can occasionally have and that may be due to it being aged in select used 18 year single malt scotch barrels. And, according to a post at rumratings.com this might be a Canadian exclusive.

The first hit is easy with minimal burn, but quickly turns to an essence of high alcohol cough syrup. Not a good start. My next sip softens and that high alcohol has faded. A few more sips in the flavours of the rum take over nicely. I get more sweetness of brown sugar, with honey, raisins, allspice, delicate nutmeg growing sip over sip. I find it difficult to pick more distinct flavours, although, online, reports include caramel and vanilla. I get the vanilla, but find it weak; caramel, not so much so. The in the throat, it carries a bit of heat. A regular rum drinker will think nothing of it, but a newby might find it harsh. The finish is slightly dry in keeping with many of the Appleton products, but I don’t mind it as much as some of the other 400+ rums I’ve tasted (neat). Pepper runs a bit long in the finish to start, but never makes you react; it’s just there to be noticed.

All-in-all this is a decent rum and I give it an 8/10. It could have garnered more points if the finish was sweeter and the flavour profile a bit more broad to include toffee and bit more fruit. Best served neat and would be a shame to use it as a mixer. This is number 414 of my 500 rum tasting goal. Cheers and enjoy.

Understand this is a Canadian exclusive and part of a series of similar releases over the next few years - Ltd Edition to 13,000 bottles. Enjoyed this a lot, great sipper and better or at least as good as the 12 year. No funk, just a lot of pleasure with the highlight being the finish of the 18 year old Speyside Scotch barrels shining through. Cheers

Having had a few Appletons and being relatively familiar with them(especially more for mixing) I was curious to try this limited release. It did not disappoint! At ~$50 CAD great value for your money that in my opinion flavour wise punches well above its weight. I enjoyed it neat and on the rocks I especially love the finish where the single malt aging comes through the most. Overall that’s some good stuff!

This is classic Appleton 8 finished in Speyside single malt scotch cask.
Rummy, easy on nose.
Absolutely smooth. Does not bite on lips like some others whisky finished sorts. Classic 8's taste is on background, 68% is new and its delicious. Fruity, funky, woody, delicious licorice. Feels like its solera on steroids ;).
Aftertaste is amazing, a bit spicy, with tobacco notes, long enough.
Made Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai with it (together with OFTD) - just the best cocktail ever!
Thanks Appleton!
P.s. it must be unLimited release