Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum Announces The Release Of Appleton Estate 50-Year-Old, The World's Oldest Barrel-Aged Rum

NEW YORK, June 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum is proud to announce the release of a world first in rum, the very rare limited edition Appleton Estate 50-Year-Old Jamaica Rum – Jamaica Independence Reserve.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120621/NY28488 )

Appleton Estate 50-Year-Old Jamaica Rum – Jamaica Independence Reserve comprises rums that have been aged for a minimum of 50 years in hand-selected oak barrels and is believed to be the oldest rum available for sale in the world. 

Available in the United States from Kobrand Spirits, a division of The Kobrand Corporation, the U.S. will receive 70 bottles, making this exclusive rum even more coveted.

The rums that make Appleton Estate 50-Year-Old Jamaica Rum were specially set aside to age over 50 years ago with the intention of creating a one-of-a-kind blend that would one day be bottled to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Jamaica's Independence. For over fifty years these rums were looked after – first by Master Blender Owen Tulloch and then by his protege and current Master Blender, Joy Spence.

This highly anticipated offering breaks new ground for the rum category as the Appleton Estate 50-Year-Old Jamaica Rum is believed to be the first rum to be aged a minimum of 50 years.  "I am honored to have played a role in the creation of the Appleton Estate 50-Year-Old Jamaica Rum," says Master Blender Joy Spence. "Combining my passion for the highest-quality handcrafted rum with my pride in the country of Jamaica is a true privilege. I am honored to share Appleton Estate 50-Year-Old Jamaica Rum with the rest of the world at this very exciting time as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Jamaican independence."

As the 50th Anniversary of Jamaica's Independence approached, Master Blender, Joy Spence carefully examined each barrel to ensure that the barrels had aged to perfection and had attained the level of complexity and richness that would be fitting to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Jamaica's Independence.  The barrels were taken from the warehouse to the blending hall where they were brought together in a special vat and left to "marry," for several months, where each rum's character, flavor and bouquet were allowed to fuse together in harmony.  The result is the highly anticipated Appleton Estate 50-Year-Old Jamaica Rum – Jamaica Independence Reserve Rum.

"The introduction of Appleton Estate 50-Year-Old Jamaica Rum marks a significant milestone for the rum industry, and Appleton Estate is very proud to introduce what is believed to be the world's oldest rum," says Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum Brand Manager Gregory Levine. "Appleton Estate has been creating fine handcrafted rums since 1749 in Jamaica's Nassau Valley, and the historical launch of Appleton Estate 50-Year-Old Jamaica Rum demonstrates the unwavering commitment to extraordinary quality and masterful blending, yielding complex flavors that has placed Appleton at the pinnacle of rum making."

The Appleton Estate 50-Year-Old is very rare and in limited quantities, with only 800 bottles available worldwide and only 70 bottles in the United States; each historic bottle has a suggested retail price of $5,000 and is magnificently packed in a custom hand-blown Glencairn Crystal Decanter and celebratory black lacquered gift box.

Appleton Estate 50 Year-Old is available nationwide at select elite retail locations beginning June 2012.  For purchase information from Appleton Estate's white glove concierge service, visit http://www.appletonestateinsider.com/50year.

ABOUT APPLETON ESTATE JAMAICA RUM

Appleton Estate Jamaica Rums are created at the world-famous Appleton Estate, Jamaica's oldest sugar factory and distillery, and are exclusively distributed in the US by Kobrand Spirits.  Since 1749, these rums have been produced from meticulously cultivated sugar cane that is Estate-grown and harvested on the beautiful island of Jamaica. Appleton Estate Jamaica Rums deliver distinctive, rich, complex, luxurious flavors within its wide array of offerings. Appleton Estate signature rum brands are strictly Estate distilled using a proprietary yeast strain propagated from the sugar cane grown on the Estate, and produced through the painstaking combination of small batch copper pot and column distillation.  With the ideal climate on hand, Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum matures in carefully selected, hand-crafted oak barrels.  The process is finalized with the artful blending by renowned Master Blender Joy Spence – the industry's first female Master Blender.  The Appleton Estate is committed to preserving the environment and reducing its carbon footprint, making a significant ongoing investment in plant, equipment and training to ensure that all operations in the Nassau Valley, as well as in its head office in Kingston, are green.

ABOUT KOBRAND SPIRITS

Kobrand Spirits is a division of Kobrand Corporation which was founded in 1944 and to this day remains one of the few family-owned wine and spirits companies. Kobrand's expansive portfolio of wine and spirits was meticulously selected according to a single, unerring principle: quality. This continued focus has made the Kobrand name synonymous with wines and spirits of the highest caliber for over 60 years.  Kobrand is the exclusive agent or brand owner for an outstanding selection of fine wines and spirits that include Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum, Maison Louis Jadot Burgundies, Champagne Taittinger, St. Francis, Sequoia Grove, Benziger Family Winery, Cakebread Cellars, Sassicaia, The Fladgate Partnership of Ports, Alize, Vikingfjord Vodka, Depaz Blue Cane Amber Rhum, Cafe Boheme Coffee Creme Liqueur, Antica Sambuca and Delamain Grande Champagne Cognacs.

SOURCE Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum