Appleton Estate 21 Year Rum. This bottle here is one of the *best* readily available rums on the market. It does not come cheap, but ohhh is it good. Composed of a blend of rums aged at least a full 21 years in Jamaica (the hot climate on the island accelerates the effects of aging – more explanation in Rum and Aging), it has the flavor complexity and depth you’d find in a whisky aged twice that time in the cold climate of Scotland. With that perspective, this is a bargain. If it means anything, this is one of the most prized rums in my large collection, and I hesitate not even for a second in recommending this bottle to anyone looking for the ultimate luxury rum. This (unlike many on the market) is one that is actually WORTH your money.

I’ve talked a lot about Jamaican rums, as it’s definitely a favorite amongst rum enthusiasts for its flavorful funkiness. Depending on where you are in your rum journey, you may have a distaste for rum due to its sweetness (due to the common practice of adding sugar in many brands), or you may have your favorites but find it tricky to venture out as you’ve heard that rums are like the wild west of spirits with few regulations and tons of variation. If you’re in either of those groups, rest assured that Jamaican rum (especially Appleton, with its relative milder level of funk compared to other Jamaican rums) is a fantastic safe choice to add to your collection. National regulations in Jamaica prohibit the use of sugar or other additives to rums, ensuring your Jamaican rum is a pure spirit that is nothing but the best.

What’s one of your most prized rums?