Velier Appleton Hearts Collection - 1999 1999 21yr 63%

"A classic Appleton is certainly not, there is certainly the 94 New Yarmouth batch much closer to it.Blind I would rather guess Demerara. The nose is beautiful and unique, Appleton also recognizable in the background. Then difficult in the mouth, very much licorice and herbs. The alcohol is super integrated, the 21 years of tropical aging resulted in a lot of depth and richness.Expectations met? No. Still a very interesting beautiful rum.Edit: The bottle is now open for a year. Licorice and herbs have given way to dried fruit. Really great to drink, an excellent rum! Yesterday enjoyed a glass with a perfectly matured Cazadores. A favorite rum that needs a while to develop in the open bottle."

"This was a very nice surprise. I was lucky to get my hands on all 3 releases and this is the first one I sampled yesterday. A rum that brings you to cloud 152 and never let's you down again. A super rich nose with fruit and oak. There is something elegant about the nose. The palate, once you get used to the proof, is even more wonderful than the nose. Spicy, warm, and bit herbal and medicinal. Super long finish and not your typical Jamaican funky rum! "

"Nose: the alcohol burn kinda covers most of the initial flavors..although I get some light fruity notes (plums and maybe figs?) then toffee, vanilla, licorice. It slowly develops a very gentle note of wood and leather (I guess..). A couple of drops of water release more of those fruity notes (raisins), together with some herbal/earthy flavors. Palate: wow, unexpected to say the least..it jumps at you with salted caramel notes, then the alcohol burn kicks in, followed by a spicy, peppery note. For me, the best of the initial set!"

"RumXmas #19, blind: I have to stop reading here (RumX forum) before I taste, it’s highly influential. I can’t get past everything you’ve described (@Stylo) and agree with most of it. A little bit less salted caramel and more burnt sugar for me. And maybe some orange, orange peel, orange marmelade? A bit like Jaffa cakes? As it sits in the glass, the alcohol fades away in the nose. On the palate however, it remains very present. ABV in the sixties. Guyana or Appleton 1999 seems to me like a good conclusion . The orange thingy does makes me look more towards Appleton 1999. 🥳🙌🏼😎"

"Le meilleur des trois. Un beau carré de chocolat"

"RumX-Adventskalender, 19.12., blind. Erster Eindruck: könnte Guyana sein, der Gaumen geht aber doch Richtung Jamaika. Holzig-fruchtig und leicht vinegar in der Nase. Intensiv und komplex. Wie bei den anderen beiden schön orange und karamellig und etwas Ahornsirup. Hier etwas mehr in Richtung Sauerkirsche und Papaya, leicht malzig und ein Hauch Lakritz hinten. Am Gaumen frischer als die beiden anderen. Holzig aber mit etwas wie Safran und Muskat. Auch hier etwas Karamell, aber mit mehr Biss. Leicht bitter-salzig. Eine Fruchtigkeit, die an gelben Apfel erinnert. Ganz Hinten im Abgang eindeutig Litchi und etwas Karamell. Von den drei Hearts der zweit beste nach dem 94er. Gefällt mir aber auch echt gut."

"19.12.21 RumX Adventskalender Blindverkostung: In der Nase kommen bei mir blumige, erdige Noten an, Geranie bspw. auch Trauben und Nuss. Im Gaumen dann pfeffrig, scharfkantig, Früchte, medizinisch, Konfekt, Gewürze. Ein toller Rum. Schön komplex, da gehts einiges. Für eine höchere Bewertung ist er mir jedoch zu bitter und zu scharfkantig."

"After the rum has opened beautiful tropical fruit notes come through accompanied by pleasant spice. Develops a soothing warmth in the finish, which I like very much"