Aroma visualization from community tastings
Appleton Reserve
Banana, caramel and a clear smoky-oak backbone, with vanilla and honey filling in around the edges. This 43% Appleton lands between the fruitier Signature and the woodier 12 — spicy on the palate, a little dry, and only lightly funky. Most tasters call it a rounded everyday Jamaican; a few find it a touch bland or wish for more ester punch.
The community says- Ripe banana nose
- Good value
- But: Low funk
View price history
10 more payment methodsSecure payment Sold by Rum Paradise Returns & cancellation
- Secure payment. You pay via RumX with PayPal, Klarna or card. Your payment data is encrypted and we never store your full card details.
- Clear seller. Sold and shipped directly by the partner shop. And you're never on your own: RumX handles support and communication with the shop, so you always get excellent service, whichever shop you order from.
- Honest shop ratings. The stars show your service experience with the shop, not the rum score. They come from RumX users, and critical ones stay visible.
- Returns & cancellation. Your purchase contract is with the shop, so returns and cancellations run through them under their own policy and your statutory rights. If anything goes wrong, RumX helps you sort it out.
Buy Appleton Reserve:
Compare all 11 shop offers
Prices & availability last updated on
The look inside the bottle
How does Appleton Reserve taste?
Aggregated from 238 community reviews.
Fruity, smoky everyday Jamaican, light funk Widely liked as a well-priced daily Jamaican — fruity nose, spicy-smoky palate. The common gripe: not much funk, and some find it a bit straightforward next to the 12.
People wanting an easy first Jamaican, neat or in a Mai Tai
Funk chasers wanting big Hampden-style esters
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
77 of 238 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Recommendation
Your next rum
One difference each to this rum.
Rated better
Appleton 15 Years Black River Casks
7.9/1058 €
More intense
Chairman's Reserve 1931 - 5th Edition
8.0/10First choice: 46 of 51 tasters who tried both prefer it.
How is Appleton Reserve rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 7.5 sits in the “Good” band. 68% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 2% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Community voices
What does the community say?
77% rate it between 6 and 8. 46 selected write-ups from 238 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
One of the community's most-rated rums
Review by abaker-rum
I love the nose on this rum. It is a good marrying of caramel, vanilla, and oak with banana and pineapple. The taste carries the banana, caramel, and honey, the fades with a medium finish of barrel notes and molasses. I think the 8 year keeps up with the 12.
Review by Steve the Barman
Most helpful positive review
All my Tastings and Scores are purely based on “Rums under £50”. I rarely look at Rums over £50 for my YouTube.
Review by Krogulczyk
Most helpful critical review
Its good for it’s price. Too bourbon-forward for my preferences. Would not buy a bottle. Spices and wood are dominant, very little amount of solvents shining through the barrel notes. It does not have as many estery notes as Appleton signature, at the same time it is not as balanced and complex as Appleton 12. Get an Appleton Signature or Appleton 12
Review by Stefan Persson
Bought a bottle and tasted this rum in Nerja, Spain. It’s a blend of many distillates, both from column and pot still, aged for a minimum of 8 years. Overall a rum that surprised me in all aspects in a good way. The nose is delicious, fruity, spicy and woody with scents of orange, baking spices and oak. At the palate it’s balanced, smooth, full bodied, sweet, fruity and spicy with flavors of honey, orange, pineapple, apricot, pepper and vanilla. The finish is very smooth and longer than expected.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
A retaste for me and I still stick to my initial score and statement 😊 I have to say that this one is best used in a mixer.
Review by LukaŽiga
7,9:On the nose, roasted oak with caramel, spicy with vanilla, banana, pineapple, citrus fruits, medicinal, metallic touch, light esters, bump into our nosetrils. On aeration, the molasses is fresh, flowery, herbaceous, hints of rubber come out, crème brûlée. 7,6:On the palate, the attack is slightly sweet with smoky wood and caramel, spicy vanilla, cinammon, fruity with banana, orange peel, dried apricots and orange, as the molasses is grassy, herbaceous. 7,5:The finish is quite short, dry and tannic, with grassy molasses, banana, citrus fruits and roasted, smoky, spicy oak..
Review by Rumpalumpa
The nose is really nice and fruity, especially right after pouring, when the esters are strongest. Pineapple and banana. The palate is quite different, very spicy and lots of molasses. Pretty good but not quite outstanding
Review by rum_sk
Taking few points down but still great rum. ,,A,, as Appleton. I thought that there would be a huge difference or leap between 8 & 12 year version. But no. The only difference is price and a slightly more prominent smell as well as taste in this 8 year version which is more rougher, but in a good way. 12 is more subtle and smoother while keeping the same taste and smell. Other than that, I cannot tell the difference. However, I will compare them against each other directly and revisit the rating but boy I love Appleton Estate.
Review by Lutz Lungershausen
Beautiful, aromatic neat sipper. Smell and taste on a ridge between young / fruity and aged / spicy, which gives an exciting complexity.Have him again as 200ml Flask in a supermarket in Negril / Jamaica bought.
Review by Marcus Ekornes
Very good rum, but not nearly as funky as other jamaican rums
Review by Michael Ihmels 🇩🇪
The next Appleton Estate. In my opinion, again very solid and suitable for beginners. The fruity taste and smell dominate here again, but not too artificial. Therefore quite tasty
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Very solid Appleton. Round and top PLV.
Review by Portman
Pretty nice sipper, but the alcohol could be integrated more smoothly. You get a good value for the price though.
Review by Philipp F.
The smell is typical Jamaican, pineapple, banana, lots of fruit, light caramel notes, for me a very round bouquet overall. The taste continues the whole thing, lots of banana and pineapple, cramamell and vanilla, light ester notes, very round and mild taste, fun. The finish is in the medium range with light wood notes, fruity and mild. For me, a very good mixer, e.g. in Mai Tai, but can be enjoyed very well on its own.
Review by HenryL
Top rum, especially for the price! Nice and fruity on the nose, with more spicy notes on the palate. I like the finish, first strong and dry, later pleasantly sweet. It's good on its own and also works well in cocktails. Those who like wood are better off with the 12, those who like it a little sweeter and fruitier should go for the 8. For me, it depends on my mood which one I prefer.
Review by Michael Schillheim
Can be drunk neat, but as a mixer, whether Mai Tai or Rum Cola, a very good choice with a very good price-performance ratio.
Review by MarMOTTE
Once the alcohol vapors are over, the nose is way too sweet for me: thick, syrupy, very strong in banana and honey.The taste surprises me: a first raw wave, with a strong smoky perfume that still hints at candied fruit, banana aromas (the only connection with the nose in my opinion).The finish seems long, peppery, almost spicy.in my opinion, a rum that can be drunk without any difficulty but that I will not choose in first instance!
Review by Gil Firth
Very nice. good entry level to non funky Jamaican rum. Sweet. Orange. טעימה אפלטונים אחלה בקבוק. לא משהו מורכב מידיי מדובר בבקבוק עם רשמים פחות גמייקנים אבל זה לגמרי עובד. תפוזים. שוקולד. דבש. נעים ומעניין מאוד בשביל מה שהוא. שווה לנסות
Review by Mark Wilkinson
Value for money a great all rounder neat and mixed
Review by Decky Hicks Doughty
On the nose there's lots of banana and honey. And a roasted note that gives a subtle spiciness that isn't unpleasant. The palate is slightly sweet with a good amount of fruit. Banana with a subtle hint of orange. Molasses and earty notes keep it well balanced. Smoke is the main presence in the finish with some oak and a touch of spice. It's a step up from the Appleton's Signature Rum and a solid Jamacian rum for the price.
Review by TheJackDrop
Tasting with friends by the fire in winter, a little game of flechettes... and rum! To sum up, my tasting notes: Nose: Vanilla In the mouth: Banana Finish: Smoky".
Review by Léo Delek
We find the ripe fruits and the molasses typical of the Jamaicans with the banana as a conductor. We have a syrupy side which I like less and an average length.
Review by thomas fraboulet
Fruité, boisé, légèrement épicé. Agréable en bouche, un léger goût de coco. Finale épicée boisée. Je l'utilise dans mon Blend Mai Tai, il ajoute du boisé et complexité. Seul je préfère le Signature mais il est tout de même très bon
Review by Tyler Griffith
Smooth, fruity, a bit funky. More sugar on the nose, more fruit on the taste. Not hardly any burn. Easy to sip, very pleasant.
Review by adn butrulle
A strong taste of smoke, glue... The good news is the bubble of banana flavor that appears in the middle. A mixture of spices with a hint of chilli as a seasoning. It is good but it is not the party of the slip either.
Review by RumisRum
Similar to the 12 but less sweet, fruitier and shorter finish
Review by Feligini. Davide
Un rum interessante da un buon carattere con note tostate e speziate ed ottimo per chi sta iniziando a sperimentare i rum jamaicani, personalmente lo preferisco in miscelazione. Li si sia esprimere in maniera più completa.
Review by ReformedPiper
Very different from what I've had so far. I really like the roastedness I'm getting. I can see this might add something different to a cocktail. Definitely more of the alcohol burn than the 40% I've tried so far, and less sweet.
Review by bur2000
Smells very fruity at first, apple (or is that because of the name?). Then rum raisins and sweetness. Damp wood. Addendum: on second tasting, first glue and later rubber stand out. The fruity notes come after longer breathing in the glass. The taste then becomes barrel, woody. Also fruity, banana comes through. A little vanilla, dry overall. The finish is long lasting, clearly fruity. A slightly flowery, musty smell remains in the empty glass, not unpleasant. Good to drink if you're looking for a somewhat drier rum without prominent spicy notes.
Review by Jakob Deiner
Etwas frischer und fruchtiger als der Appleton 12, dafür nicht ganz so würzig, weniger holzig aber auch nicht ganz so rund. Ansonsten das typische Appleton Profil, irgendwo zwischen dem noch fruchtigeren Signature und dem sehr guten 12. - Pur: 3.5/5 - Rum Fashioned: 4/5 - Rum Cola: 4/5 - Rum Mule: 4/5 - Rum Punch: 4.5/5
Review by FassZinator
Typisch Appelton bedeutet für mich geradlinig. All in all ein runder Sipper. Hat jedoch keinen großen funk und ist meiner Meinung nach etwas zu langweilig. Für den Einstieg in den puren Genuss aber echt gut. Viel Jamaica Charakter sollte man jedoch nicht erwarten. P/G Verhältniss super.
Review by Jack M
Fantastic value for money. Certainly deserves to be a staple on the home bar. Good nose and better palate.
Review by Kieron Wood
This is good solid pot blend rum that combined with the funk gives it that Jamaican classiness ... You can taste lovely orange peel and smooth coffee ... Good solid 8 year rum
Review by TheTobias
This 8 year old Appleton is not very complex. Wood and spices are in the foreground and there is not much fruit to be found behind it. It’s solid retry level rum and good for mixing but nothing special.
Review by François Delmotte
Commençant à m'intéresser un peu plus au rhums jamaïcain, je trouve que ce Appleton estate 8ans est ce que l'on appelle un bon rapport qualité-prix. Au nez je ressens banane, fruits tropicaux et ester. En bouche les mêmes saveurs assez fruitées mais également légèrement poivrées et miel. Finale : manque un peu de longueur mais pas mal dans l'ensemble. Bonne dégustation.
Review by Jasper van den Bovenkamp
Beginnende rum drinker hier. Ik vond de sterke alcoholsmaak overweldigend, een beetje too much voor mij. Kruidig, pittig. Niet mijn favoriet, misschien meer voor de gevorderde drinker
Review by RumCzar
This is a high quality Jamaican rum that always disappointes me. I wish it had a bit more Jamaican funk. I drink this neat. I only buy this for parties because it's so easy to get.
Review by Schnapsschuesse
There is already considerably more going on here than in the Signature. Jamaica is noticeable, some ester. Banana, pineapple, honey and molasses, especially the latter comes to the fore and covers everything. In addition, there's also a good load of fruit from overripe to dried. Also very noticeable is a strong roasted note. Nice entry-level Jamaican.
Review by Mark Leggett
Banana, caramel, and oak come through in the smell and flavor. Finish is banana and smoke.
Review by cetto
Ottimo rum giamaicano per iniziare , si sente il legno di quercia dove viene affinato.
Review by K.STRIFE
Hints of vanilla, honey, and orange peel. 43% abv leaves a little burn on the tongue
Review by C Ap Adam
30ml sample bottle Surely not natural colouring Nose: Initially rubbery, with caramelised apple and spice Turns into aromatic tea (earl grey?) and banana bread or even carrot cake (with icing!) Green and fresh below It's not as punchy as I would like, but perhaps my sinuses are in imperfect health Mouth: Sweet in a mildly golden-brown sort of way Turns smoky and peppery quickly Finish: Reassuringly long and interesting considering the mouth petered out a bit Impression: Maybe this is worth a second look at a different time and place with a larger sample size. I just didn't feel like it stood out.
Review by Fifulek
Nose: sweet molasses, burnt sugar, smar, chocolate Taste: fesh apricot in milk chocolate (kinda like ararat 5), orage6peel, alcohol somewhat well hidden Finnish: medium, tropical fruits, mango, slight woody/sugsry burn
Review by Anonymous
Heavy brown sugar almost too sweet to use in a lot of cocktails. Probably better sipped.
Review by Dabou
Je le trouve très agréable, le goût reste longtemps dans la bouche sans brûler le palais
Review by Kamil Křenek
For drink with all friend Ok for Home tasting … noise is berter than taste
No reviews match this filter.
Expert reviews
4 critics scored it, averaging 7.5/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..
Expert review by Single Cask Rum
Read full review →
Expert review by Rum Runner Labs
Read full review →
Expert review by The Fat Rum Pirate
Read full review →If you want funk from Appelton Estate than Wray and Nephew White Overproof is what you want. If you want an afforadable and very nice every day sipper and a premium mixer - get this in your shopping trolley next time Tarquin takes you to Waitrose. The old Aged 8...
Expert review by The Dunder Hut
Better in a drink, slightly worse on its own
Live auctions
Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Market value
Avg. community purchase price 30 €
What members paid for this bottle, self-reported. Not a market value — the purchases are over three years old at the median and unverified.
Details about Appleton Reserve
A Pot & Column Still Rum from Jamaica, distilled by Appleton Estate, at 43%.
Community purchases
540 bottles logged by 484 collectors.
A drinker & collector.
33% opened, 75 emptied and repurchased.
What does Appleton Reserve cost?
Community paid 24–37 €.
Current best price: 29.90 € – within the typical community range.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
+44 purchases in the last 3 months.
Added to collections, last 12 months — dark bars are the last 3.
540 purchased · 250 tasted · 194 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
You may also enjoy
Rum enthusiasts who like this rum have also given the following rums high ratings:
Appleton Rare Casks 12 Years
Appleton Rare Casks 12 YearsRounded, oaky Jamaican with gentle funk
Appleton Signature Single Estate Jamaica Rum
Appleton Signature Single Estate Jamaica RumLight, fruity entry Jamaican, best mixed
Appleton Rare Blend 12 Years
Appleton Rare Blend 12 YearsWoody, contained-funk daily Jamaican
Plantation Original Dark
Plantation Original DarkSweet, easy banana-honey mixing rum
Long Pond & Monymusk Myers's Original Dark
Long Pond & Monymusk Myers's Original DarkMolasses-heavy Jamaican mixer, not a sipper
Plantation 3 Stars White
Plantation 3 Stars WhiteLight, sweet white rum built for mixing
Never miss a price drop.
Set a target price in the app, and we'll let you know as soon as the rum becomes available at that price from one of our partner stores. This works for any rum on your wish list.
Oliver · FounderBy rum lovers, for rum lovers
I'm Oliver, and RumX began in 2018 as a small passion project in Stuttgart, back then under the name Rum Tasting Notes.
What began as my digital tasting diary is now the world's most comprehensive platform for rum fans, today carried by a small team with Jakob, Lukas and Katharina, with Robert supporting us as a freelancer. We combine the collective intelligence of our community with an integrated marketplace, so you can choose with confidence, without paperwork, detours, or expert jargon.
Oliver, Stuttgart
About RumX →YouTube channel (in German)
