Kingston, Jamaica — Appleton Estate, the world-renowned Jamaican distillery and the oldest continuously operating rum producer on the island, has announced the launch of its most exclusive and historic expression to date: “The Source 51-Year-Old”, touted as the longest tropically aged rum ever released.
With only 25 hand-numbered, heart-shaped decanters available worldwide, the ultra-rare single-marque rum will debut in select global markets beginning July 2025, at a striking price of US$70,000.
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“Aged exclusively in Jamaica’s tropical climate for over five decades, The Source is a singular masterpiece of provenance and patience,” the company stated in a press release issued Tuesday. “This one-of-a-kind expression was meticulously crafted from Appleton Estate’s own single estate sugar cane, using open-air fermentation and distilled exclusively in our traditional copper pot stills.”
The rum was laid down on July 30, 1973, in a single American oak cask in Appleton’s iconic aging warehouse. Originally overseen by legendary Master Blender Owen Tulloch, the barrel was later entrusted to his protégé, Dr. Joy Spence, the industry’s first female master blender and the architect behind many of the distillery’s most celebrated creations. Spence drew the final liquid in January 2025, marking over 51 years of uninterrupted aging under tropical conditions.
“Tasting this beautiful expression with Owen over 40 years ago sparked my lifelong passion for the possibilities of aged rum,” said Dr. Spence. “This release is a tribute to the artistry, dedication, and spirit of our people — from hand-harvested cane and traditional distillation to the stewardship of our barrels across generations. Jamaica and rum are inseparable, much like the heart and soul captured in The Source.”
The name pays homage to the aquifer beneath Appleton Estate, a pristine spring that flows through limestone-filtered riverbeds and provides the water used in every bottle of Appleton rum. The decanter design reflects this inspiration — featuring a deep mahogany liquid hue flowing into a crystalline aquamarine base, a nod to the estate’s legendary water source.
Each bottle is crowned with a hand-sculpted copper Doctor Bird, Jamaica’s national bird, set against a navy backdrop, and housed in a turquoise case adorned with a radial straw marquetry pattern reminiscent of pressed cane.
In celebration of this milestone release, Appleton Estate also announced a new philanthropic initiative in partnership with the Jamaica Art Society. The distillery will support the 2026–2027 In Focus Fellowship cohort, an artistic program that will provide funding and platforms for emerging Jamaican artists. The collaboration will include co-branded dinners, experiential events, and a curated retrospective celebrating five decades of Jamaican visual art.
