Rumfest Recap – Part 3 – Appleton Estate White Rum

I was a little reticent about this as my previous experience of white rum has been limited to another well-known brand (coughBacardicough), but I was feeling a little adventurous so I took the plunge and picked up a bottle on the way home from work.

Appleton White, unlike many other white rums is aged and then filtered slowly through special charcoal. This results in a rum that is smooth, brilliantly clear and light bodied with a subtle taste and delicate aroma. It doesn’t have the scent I have come to expect from rum, and oddly enough has a similar scent to vodka, but sits nicely on the tongue with almost no aftertaste. As a sipping rum it is a suprising drink, and although quite enjoyable it’s not my preference.

One of my standard tests for all rums is the classic Cuba Libre, and Appleton White makes a refreshing alternative as a mixer. Where most dark rums bring out the caramel in the cola, this takes away some of the over-sweetness of the coke and gives the drink a little bit of an edge. I have a feeling that mixed with fruit or coconut juice is where Appleton White will really start to stand out. And it will certainly play a major part in the cocktails when I throw my rum tiki party!