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Appleton Hearts Collection 1999 Returns, Five Years Older
, by Rolando Prendergast, 2 min reading time
Appleton Estate’s Hearts Collection 1999 returns, now aged 26 years. For a Jamaican rum lover, it’s another reason to feel proud of what we make here, and to ask whether a bottle this special belongs in a collection or deserves to be opened with friends.
Some bottles deserve a little extra time. Appleton Estate clearly felt that way about its Hearts Collection 1999. First released in 2020, the vintage returns in a new 2026 release, now aged 26 years after spending five more years in cask.
If you read our earlier article on the Hearts Collection 1998, this is a different release from the same series. The year on the bottle tells you when the rum was distilled. This time, Appleton has returned to its 1999 reserves to share what a longer stay in the barrel can bring.
Selected by Master Blender Dr Joy Spence in partnership with rum expert Luca Gargano, the new release is a 100% pot-still rum drawn from just 10 casks. Appleton announced its US rollout for October, with a suggested retail price of around US$500.
That price will make most of us pause. It certainly makes me pause. But I’m interested in what’s inside the bottle and what it says about the rum we make here in Jamaica.
Appleton describes aromas of chocolate, coffee and dried fruit, followed by a long, honeyed oak finish. I haven’t tasted this release, so I can’t offer a personal verdict. What interests me is the chance to see how a familiar vintage develops with more time.
As a Jamaican, there’s pride in seeing this level of attention given to our rum. Appleton has been part of gatherings and conversations here for generations. Seeing people overseas seek out these special releases is a reminder that something familiar to us can mean discovery for someone else.
At home, I keep a few bottles I enjoy. I might have a drink once or twice a week, sometimes with friends, sometimes during a quiet evening. I understand why collectors keep rare bottles sealed, but I would want to open this one. I’d choose the company carefully, pour a little and give everyone time to enjoy it.
You don’t need to spend US$500 to have that kind of evening. A favourite rum and good company can do the job perfectly well. Still, the Hearts Collection gives us another reason to appreciate Jamaican rum and the people who dedicate years to making it.
For me, the right occasion would end with the cork coming out.
The quoted price is Appleton’s suggested US retail price. Jamaican pricing and availability have not been confirmed.