Just when you thought you had rum all figured out, along comes something very special indeed to take the world by surprise. “The Source 51-Year-Old” has officially made its debut and created an ultra premium luxury world to rum. Announced here in the UK by Appleton Estate master blender Joy Spence, who is here on a number of PR events sharing this joyous news. The packaging is a true statement and artistic masterpiece on its own. Only 25 decanters have been created. The decanter is crowned with a handcrafted copper rendition of Jamaica’s national bird, the Doctor Bird, set against a navy backdrop. It is housed in a striking turquoise case adorned with a radial straw marquetry pattern inspired by pressed cane.
Bottled at 62% ABV, given the high evaporation rate, this is amazing. It will be very interesting to know who will be lucky (and wealthy) enough to get their hands on this amazing liquid creation. Each beautiful decanter will retail at a whopping $70,000 each.
“Aged exclusively in Jamaica’s tropical climate for over five decades, The Source is a singular masterpiece of provenance and patience. This one-of-a-kind, single marque rum was meticulously crafted from Appleton Estate’s own single estate sugar cane, using open fermentation and distilled exclusively in the estate’s traditional copper pot stills. Laid down in a single American oak cask on July 30, 1973 in the estate’s most iconic ageing warehouse, it was originally overseen by Master Blender Owen Tulloch, and then later entrusted to his protégé and successor, Dr Joy Spence, the first female master blender in the spirits’ industry,” Appleton said in a press release on Tuesday.
Joy said: “The bottle is at the heart, because Appleton Estate is in the heart of Jamaica. The blue is because of the water from water source. And hence the name, and most importantly, the quality of the liquid, with the flavour profile as a beautiful, smoky orange, with dried raisins, fig, vanilla, and beautiful cinnamon notes that make it so unique and different”.
Global rum ambassador Ian Burrell was of course one of the luckiest rum lovers alive. As he got an extremely exclusive, not to mention extremely expensive shot of “The Source” to enjoy with its much beloved master blender Joy Spence at, I can only imagine, a secret guarded cave somewhere!
View this post on Instagram
Love to hear your thoughts on this masterpiece. Share on our socials and spread the rum love.
Images courtesy Appleton Estate.