I was fortunate to procure a Mai Tai’s worth of Appleton 17 Year Legend Jamaica Rum, the limited release from 2023 that was developed by Appleton Master Blender Joy Spence to replicate the character of the original Mai Tai rum, Wray & Nephew 17. As was well-chronicled in 2023, this long-aged 49% ABV rum has a ton of flavor thanks to it being 100% pot-still distillate and including rare marques unlike any of the mainstream Appleton rum expressions. The Appleton 17 Mai Tai at Smuggler’s Cove was my favorite of the year and the best so far this decade.
I was always interested in making an Appleton 17 Mai Tai using the same ingredients I use at home. My favorite orgeat and orange curaçao but also my own ice, so that I can compare to other Mai Tais that I make at home. Would the Appleton 17 rum remain notable? Yes, friends, yes it does.
At 49% ABV, this rum is very approachable compared to a lot of overproof flavor bombs. There’s just a little less of a punch in the face, which means that it is very smooth once it gets into Trader Vic’s masterpiece cocktail. You can really taste the rum and this is a cocktail you want to sip to savor every last drop.
I don’t know how many of those original 1500 bottles still exist. I’m sure many were opened and still not quite finished, which means that running across a bottle in the wild is exceedingly rarer and rarer. But there are still bottles out there on the back bars of retail establishments and there most certainly some bottles keeping collectors and home bartenders company. Keep on the lookout, friends.
Glassware: Smuggler’s Cove circa 2019