Appleton Estate Releases 26 Year Old Hearts Collection 1999
Appleton Estate has gone back to a vintage it already released and let it sleep five more years. The Jamaican distillery has announced the 2026 edition of Hearts Collection 1999, now 26 years old and drawn from just 10 casks. It was first released in 2020, and it arrives in select U.S. shops this October at a suggested price of about $500.
Did You Know?
Only 1,406 bottles were produced worldwide, according to Forbes, which says that is the smallest run of any Hearts Collection release.
The Hearts Collection was Appleton Estate's first series of single-marque pot-still rums when it debuted in 2020.
Master Blender Joy Spence chooses from nearly 200,000 casks aging in the estate's warehouses, one of the largest rum collections in the world.
The Release
Hearts Collection 1999 is a return trip. The 1999 vintage first appeared in 2020, and Appleton has now brought it back after five additional years in the tropical Jamaican climate. The rum was bottled in 2025 and is now labeled at 26 years old.
This is a single proprietary marque distilled in a Forsyth Pot Still, drawn from only 10 casks. A "marque" is a Jamaican term for a specific flavor signature in pot-still rum. A pot still is a traditional still that works in batches rather than continuously, and it is known for producing fuller, more characterful spirit. Appleton frames the release as a celebration of its 100% pot-still rums.
The rum was made by Master Blender Joy Spence in partnership with rum connoisseur Luca Gargano. Spence said returning to the casks showed that "1999 has become more memorable," with liquid that had grown more delicious and complex over time.
According to Appleton Estate, the nose shows chocolate, coffee and dried fruit, with spicy, herbal and floral notes woven through. The palate is described as exceptionally smooth, with a long, honeyed oak finish. Robb Report, which reports the rum aged in ex-bourbon casks, lists caramel, banana, grilled pineapple, licorice, cinnamon, apple pie, brown sugar and molasses on the palate. It also says the 63% ABV heat stays controlled and never overpowering. Forbes gives the strength as 126 proof, which is the same thing.
The Story of Appleton Estate
Appleton Estate sits in Jamaica's Nassau Valley in St. Elizabeth, and it is the oldest continuously operating distillery in Jamaica, with more than 275 years of history. The brand points to a few ingredients that shape its style: limestone-filtered water, a yeast strain passed down through generations, and a warm tropical climate.
Joy Spence leads the blending. Robb Report notes she has been master blender since 1997. Appleton says its age statements always reflect the youngest rum in the blend, with no added flavorings or sweeteners.
The lineup runs from the 8 Year Old Reserve up to the 21 Year Old Nassau Valley Casks. Limited editions include the 17 Year Old Legend and the Hearts Collection. Appleton is owned by Campari Group, the Milan-based company behind Aperol, Wild Turkey, Espolòn and Courvoisier.
The Hearts Collection began in 2020 and has become one of the most sought-after series in premium rum. It has included vintages 1994, 1995, 1999, 1984, 2003, 1993, 2002 and 1998. This 2026 bottle joins those eight earlier expressions.
Why It Stands Out
Re-releasing a vintage is unusual. Collectors who tracked the original 1999 now get the same distillation with five more years of aging, which makes for an interesting side-by-side. The very small bottle count and the single-marque, pot-still focus add to the appeal. Together with the sheer size of Appleton's aging stocks, they show why a rum at this age and scarcity can sit in the same conversation as top-tier limited whisky.
The Details
Style: Jamaican aged rum, single marque, pot still
Age: 26 years
ABV/Proof: 63% ABV, 126 proof (per Robb Report and Forbes)
Distillation: Forsyth Pot Still, bottled in 2025
Cask: 10 casks (Robb Report reports ex-bourbon)
Release Size: 1,406 bottles worldwide (per Forbes)
Price (SRP): approximately $500
Availability: select premium U.S. spirits retailers, while supplies last
Release Date: October 2026
Tonights Poison Take
This is a rare chance to taste what extra time does to a rum people already admired. Ten casks and a bottle count in the low thousands mean it will not sit on shelves long. At about $500 and 126 proof, it looks like one for patient sipping, ideally with a few friends and a little water.
Bar Talk: Appleton's Hearts Collection 1999 is the same rum released in 2020, just aged five more years, and only 1,406 bottles exist.
Send this to the rum collector who keeps a bottle of the 2020 original on the shelf.
Please enjoy responsibly.
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