My recollections from 1993 were the introduction of Beanie Babies and a very awkward time in secondary school. (For a good number of you, back then, you were probably just a twinkle in your dad’s eye.) From the year 2002, the only takeaways were the addition of new countries to the EU and awkwardness in the army. Given enough time, things can age poorly (anyone wanna buy a dozen Princess Diana bears?) But inversely, given enough time, it can yield something magical. Case in point: the 1993 and 2002 rums added to Appleton Estate’s Hearts Collection.
As the sixth and seventh additions to the Hearts Collection, 1993 and 2002 were selected from 13 and 20 barrels, respectively. Appleton Estate’s master blender Joy Spence chose from close to 200,000 barrels ageing in the estate’s warehouses in Jamaica. Rum connoisseur Luca Gargano further narrows the selection.
Ageing plays a huge part in a rum’s final product. Aged in a tropical climate, you get richer and rounder flavours more quickly than spirits aged in cooler climates. According to Spence, when you sample rum that’s aged for more than 20 years, it’s a “really extraordinary experience”.
“I had long dreamt of releasing single vintage selections from Appleton Estate,” Spence says. “So, it’s been amazing to see the warm reception the Hearts Collection releases receive year after year, all around the world.”
From a meeting at Appleton Estate’s distillery between Joy Spence and Luca Gargano, grew a germ of an idea: to commemorate the distillery’s rebranding by paying homage to Appleton Estate’s craftmanship of over 265 years. Appleton Estate is one of the few distilleries in the world that can claim “terroir” in its production in Nassau Valley. After its distilled in a 100 per cent copper forsyth pot still, the rum is aged in Number One Select American Oak Barrels—all made on-site.
Given the long ageing processes, the two vintage expressions are something else: 1993 has a nutmeg and cinnamon aroma and offers a warm butterscotch, a touch of mint and toasted oak and honeyed vanilla to the tongue. For the 2002 version, there are orange blossoms and coffee notes. On the palate, a full and smooth taste of honey. These limited-edition vintages come with unique bottle designs, blue closures and a new blue palette.
The 1993 and 2002 expressions from Appleton Estate’s Hearts Collection retail for SGD560 and SGD460 respectively. They are solely available at Campari Group’s RARE Division. For purchase and enquiries, contact Cathy Sun at Cathy.Sun@campari.com
