Wow! 50 reviews! That’s so many!

I have tried Appleton’s Signature, 8, and 12, back in one of my first reviews. This was a good spread, as I had barely just gotten into rum, and dropping $70 on Appleton 15, just slightly less than the cost of the other 3 combined, seemed like a big ask. Well, the time has come.

On a side note, the time has not yet come for 21 year, which costs as much as signature, 8, 12 AND 15 combined.

Review

Smell

Smells like smooth oak and vanilla. Honestly, it smells pretty much like a Spanish-style column still rum. It smells deep and rich like Havana Club 7. Back when I did my review of Appleton 12, I felt like it was overoaked, which made sense at the time, as it was the oakiest and most aged rum that I’ve tasted so far. But compared to 15, 12 actually has a bit of a funky fruity smell to it.

Taste

It’s extremely smooth. Often, when I first start a drinking session, the first rum tastes harsh, and I need to cycle through the drinks first before I get acclimated to 40%+ ABV hitting my tongue. But Appleton 15 felt like soda on my tongue. Only the slightest tingle to suggest that it’s not pure nectar.

Havana Club 7 has a deep, rich, complex oaky profile, with no fruit at all, and Appleton 15 is definitely lighter in profile, though it is also complex and oaky, and has the slightest bit of fruit on the back. Appleton 12 is noticably lighter and more fruity and floral, but not as deep and rich as 15. It’s a lot lighter in body and flavor.

I made daiquiris with all 3 rums, and as always, Havana Club 7 is pretty oaky and tannic. Appleton 15 surprised me. I expected it to be oaky and tannic too, but actually, it’s really bright and very much pops in this drink. It makes a very interesting and fruity daiquiri, and I thought that Appleton 12 would be even more fruity than 15, but actually no, its lighter body and flavor lead to a daiquiri that tastes kind of watered down compared to Appleton 15.

Verdict 7.5/10

(Edited from 8/10 on 12/12/25)

I must reiterate that I am not the biggest fan of very long aged, oaky rums. I am a Jamaica-pilled funkmaxxer. That said, for those of you that like it oakier, you’re going to love this rum. It’s everything about Appleton 12, but even more. It’s a straight upgrade from it. It’s deeper, richer, more complex, and more concentrated. Exceptionally smooth and easy sipping. Me, personally? I still prefer it mixed. Probably would make an amazing Mai Tai as the aged Jamaican component.

December 12, 2025 Update:

I re-reviewed, and I think that my previous findings largely stand.

It’s just so rich, oaky, caramelly, totally smooth. There is a hint of Jamaican funk, but rather than be the face of the rum, it sort of is like the bass in an orchestra, just accenting the richness and complexity. In fact, the funk comes through a bit more than the 12 in my opinion, so it may actually have a bit more pot still in the mix. Even though it’s barrel-driven, unlike Spanish rums, there’s just so much more body and complexity to it.

Of course, compared to this rum, Signature tastes like Myers’s. It’s just rather anemic, sweet, funky, and lacking real depth, but it’s still good. It just goes to show that Signature is one of my favorite mixing rums, and 15 is one of my favorite sipping rums.