First Impressions
The Appleton Hearts Collection is now legendary in rum circles. Selected by Luca Gargano in collaboration with Appleton Estate's Master Blender Joy Spence, these are 100% pot still rums of extraordinary quality. This 1998 expression has been tropically aged for twenty-five years and bottled at cask strength 63% — a rum that represents the absolute pinnacle of Jamaican rum-making.
Tasting
The nose is rich and powerful. Tropical fruit leads with complexity — not simple fruit but deep, evolved, aged tropical character. Aged oak provides structure, dark spice adds warmth, dried fruit contributes depth, vanilla softens things, and coffee adds a sophisticated bitter note. It's a nose of extraordinary complexity.
The palate is magnificent. Tropical fruit and aged oak complexity form the core, with dark chocolate and dried fig adding richness. Baking spice provides warmth, leather contributes a mature dimension, and the texture is oily and muscular. At 63%, the ABV is remarkably well-integrated — powerful but not harsh. Water opens up additional fruit and spice dimensions.
The finish is extraordinarily long. Oak, tropical fruit, spice, and a dignified Jamaican warmth persist for minutes, evolving continuously.
The Bottom Line
Appleton 1998 Hearts Collection earns its 9 through the combination of Joy Spence's blending artistry and Luca Gargano's selection instinct. At £432, it represents fair value for a quarter-century, 100% pot still Jamaican rum of this calibre. A masterpiece of Jamaican distillation.
