Appleton Estate Jamaica 1999 Hearts Collection 100% Pot Still 21 Year – 63%
Stats: Appleton Estate’s “Hearts Collection” is a series of long aged 100% pot still rums at high proof, in limited editions, released in collaboration with Velier. The initial three bottlings were vintages from 1994, 1995 and 1999, all aged at origin.
The rum featured here comes from a batch of twelve casks that were distilled on a Forsyth’s pot still in 1999 and aged in Jamaica for 21 years, producing 3,000 bottles at 63% ABV. The marque and ester count is not disclosed but the total congeners are 855 g/100 LAA.
Background: About a year after the announcement of this series, and following countless auction listings, reviews, and serious FOMO surrounding these releases, they miraculously showed up in the TX market last year. A store in Houston had all three priced $289 across the board. Not wanting to shell out a grand to treat myself to this experience, I corralled a couple friends to go in on these with me so we’d each spend about $300 to get ⅓ a bottle of all three vintages.
Conditions: Enjoyed neat in a Glencairn over numerous sessions.
Nose: Caramel, roasted corn, dough, cedar, musty suitcase, floor cleaner, grapefruit skin, orange peel, black pepper, Febreeze, melted butter, Cookie Crisp, old books.
Mouth: Overripe fruit medley, mango, papaya, gasoline, motor oil, copper, cacao, dried oak, milk chocolate, graham cracker, Febreeze, vanilla, root beer, tobacco, leather. There’s a decent amount of heat that wasn’t perceived on the nose. Diesely, rubbery, industrial funk and bitter grapefruit lingers.
Final Thoughts: This is extremely unique, not just compared to the core releases from Appleton, but in the pantheon of high ester pot still Jamaican rums. It’s industrial, metallic, and weird, if not a bit jumbled. Was hoping for a little more cohesion, but not a regrettable experience.
My Rating: 3/5
My Scale:
1 – I don’t want this in my mouth ever again
2 – Underwhelming
3 – Decent tipple
4 – Very enjoyable
5 – I always want a bottle of this on my shelf
Austin Rum Society 
One response to “Appleton Estate Jamaica 1999 Hearts Collection 100% Pot Still 21 Year – 63%”
[…] Stats: Appleton Estate’s “Hearts Collection” is a series of long aged 100% pot still rums at high proof, in limited editions, released in collaboration with Velier. The initial three bottlings were vintages from 1994, 1995 and 1999, all aged at origin (I’ve previously posted a review of 1999). […]
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