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Jamaica’s Appleton Estate announces the launch of the limited-edition 17 Year Old Legend – an exclusive and faithful recreation of the legendary 17-Year-Old rum crafted by J. Wray & Nephew on the Estate in the 1940s known globally to have inspired the creation of the Mai Tai cocktail.
The rum has become one of the most sought-after bottles in the world and rum connoisseurs and classic cocktail enthusiasts are able to purchase a bottle thanks to a limited offering. Due to the rarity of the distillates, only 1,500 bottles are available globally, never to be produced again with a retail selling price of $500 a bottle.
“With our 17 Year Old Legend, we knew we had a special story to tell,” says Joy Spence, Master Blender at Appleton Estate. “This project has been years in the making and truly one of the most challenging of my career. In carefully re-creating the beautiful taste profile of the original rum, we’ve created an expression that is a tribute both to our own heritage, and to the heritage of the classic cocktail craft.”
Appleton Estate 17 Year Old Legend is an emblem of the distillery’s unrivaled history of crafting exceptional aged rums. Referencing original manuscripts and formulas, legendary Master Blender Joy Spence created this one-time release using four very rare distillates set aside to rest on the Estate to best recreate the taste profile of the prized golden blend. 17 Year Old Legend is the gift of one of the oldest aging rum libraries in the world, and soon to be a jewel of the finest rum collections.
17 Year Old Legend Creates History
In 1944, legend has it that this exquisite spirit caught the imagination of one notable bartender in particular – Victor Bergeron, founder of the famous Trader Vic’s bar in San Francisco. While experimenting with friends, it’s said that he reached for a bottle of 17 Year Old rum, blended by J. Wray & Nephew. Medium-bodied, beautiful, and golden, the hues were evocative of the Jamaican sun. Protective to not overpower this special blend, Victor paired it with a subtle range of ingredients, to complement the rum’s top notes. Shared with his friends from Tahiti, it was declared ‘Maita’i roa a’e’, or simply translated, ‘the best’, and thus, a legend was born.
Today, the iconic blend is aged a minimum of 17 years in the island’s fertile and tropical climate. Appleton Estate rums age nearly three times more quickly than spirits aged in cooler climates, allowing for richer, fuller flavours to develop in a shorter period – in fact, the minimum age of 17 years in the tropical climate of Jamaica is equivalent to over 50 years of ageing in a cooler climate.
Crafted with Jamaican limestone-filtered water, with no added flavours, 17 Year Old Legend displays rich, caramelized pear and banana notes, mingling with warm, nutty, oak, and floral herbal notes. The full body crescendo culminates in a lingering, silky-smooth finish. The precious liquid is held in the brand’s iconic glass bottle, with a tropical interpretation of Appleton
1,500 bottles of this special expression have been produced and are available for sale. Beginning on May 17, 2023, 36 NFTs redeemable for bottles of Appleton Estate 17 Year Old Legend will be available on BlockBar.com.
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The 17 Year Old Legend will also be available at select premium retailers starting in June, 2023, in the United States, Jamaica, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Denmark, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, New Zealand, Japan, and Hong Kong.
APPLETON ESTATE 17 YEAR OLD LEGEND MAI TAI
2 oz. Appleton Estate 17 Year Old Legend
5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
5 oz. Orange Curaçao
5 oz Orgeat (Almond) Syrup
Combine in a shaker filled with ice (crushed and cubed)
Shake well and chill. Pour into a double old fashioned glass.
Garnish with one lime shell and fresh mint sprig.
For more information visit: www.appletonestate.com and www.camparigroup.com.
