Appleton Estate's 51 Year Old Is The Oldest Rum Ever: Here's Why It Matters
Appleton Estate has announced the release of The Source, a groundbreaking $70,000, 51 year old tropical-aged rum, making it the oldest rum ever released. In the global market of premium age-statements it can be easy to dismiss this as just another ~50 year old, but that whisky-centric view misses the skill and dedication required to age a spirit for over half a century in a tropical climate. To put this release in perspective, getting a tropical aged rum to 51 is estimated to be the equivalent of around 153 years old for a scotch.
With just 25 decanters available globally, The Source 51 year old challenges everything we think we know about maturation, scarcity and what age really means for spirits. Here are three things you need to know about the release.
So what's all the fuss about a 51 year old when there are much older spirits about? If you like cask matured spirits you have likely heard of the angel's share. This is the romantic term used in whisky to describe the natural evaporation experienced while spirits mature in a cask. At Appleton Estate they use a different term: the 'devil's share.' Evaporation rates for casks maturing on the Appleton Estate averages around 10% per year.
Originally laid down by Owen Tulloch in 1973, The Source was entrusted to Dr. Joy Spence, whose visionary cask management brought this historic rum to life. Campari
It's not just the evaporation rate that is accelerated. The warmer temperatures experienced in the tropics stimulate maturation in all senses; enhanced interaction with the wood and atmosphere that build complex flavour and aroma profiles faster too. That means you need to look at age-statements for tropical aged spirits completely differently to those matured in other climates.
All that combines to mean tropical maturation rates are around two to three times faster than for equivalent casks maturing somewhere like Scotland.
The Source was originally distilled in 1973 under Master Blender Owen Tulloch. The project was then entrusted to his protégé and successor, Dr. Joy Spence, who still oversees Appleton Estate as Master Blender more than forty years later.
Older than any whisky ever released in equivalent terms, this 51-year-old rum pushes the boundaries of age, rarity, and maturation. Campari
Over an interview with me to discuss the release of The Source, Dr. Spence explained how there were originally more than forty casks laid down as part of this project in ultramaturation. The unique cask management used in traditional rum maturation means that many of these were sacrificed to satisfy the tropical 'devil's share,' which can exceed 10% evaporation per year compared to losses of around 2% per year on average in Scotland.
'Tasting this beautiful expression with Owen over 40 years ago sparked my lifelong passion for the possibilities of aged rum,' added Dr. Spence in the official press release. The release is a remarkable achievement for a remarkable distillery and Master Blender who have constantly pushed the boundary of expectation around what is possible for rum and distilling. Scarcity And Value
I love the presentation of these bottles. Each heart shaped decanter features layered references to its source and heritage that enhance and frame the spirit itself without detraction. It is both vibrant and refined. From the copper depiction of Jamaica's national bird, the Doctor Bird, on the stopper, to the vibrant blue marquetry inspired by the pressed sugar cane that is the source of all Appleton Estate rum, this is a beautifully presented bottle that is deserving of a place in the heart of any collector's cabinet.
The scarcity of this release is nothing short of remarkable either. Let's not forget that the whisky that holds multiple world record auction prices is one of an original release of forty bottles. The Macallan 1926 60 year old was originally released in the 1980s, produced from a forgotten cask, but in today's market's much larger limited editions are the norm. For example, the oldest Glenfarclas launched last month, an incredible and rare 70 year old whisky, yet they were still able to release 262 bottles!
I am not using the comparison to diminish what Glenfarclas have achieved. Instead I feel that in today's premium aged spirits market there can be an emphasis on the 'oldest' releases that misses the nuance of an individual distillery and team's achievement.
If you only look at the age statement of The Source, you miss the story behind this remarkable achievement and what is also a historic milestone in premium aged Jamaican Rum.
There are just 25 bottles of The Source available globally, with a recommended price of $70,000 (£59,320 in the UK via Berry Bros. & Rudd).
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