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Velier Appleton Hearts Collection - 2003
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Dried fruit, banana bread, licorice and warm oak, with tobacco and dark chocolate underneath. This 18-year tropical-aged Appleton pot still runs low on the ester funk many expect from Jamaica — several tasters mistook it blind for a Guyana or Trinidad rum. The 63% sits so well integrated most wouldn't guess the strength. It needs air; give it time and the fruit blooms.
The community says- Beautifully integrated 63%
- Complex, layered
- But: Can turn bitter
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Auction results: 86–235 € (41 sales in 24 months, incl. buyer's premium, latest 09/2026). How the range is built ›
The look inside the bottle
How does Velier Appleton Hearts Collection - 2003 taste?
Summarized by AI from community reviews.
Balanced, oaky Jamaican with tamed funk Loved across the board for its balance and buried strength — banana, spice and gentle oak. A few find it too woody, bitter or, for some, a touch too polished and tame.
Aroma profileFans of aged, wood-driven Jamaican pot still with tamed funk
Anyone chasing loud high-ester Hampden funk
Style & occasion: Mature & oakyTropical & funkySipping neat
Full aroma profile Aroma families · nose & palate · top aromas
Relative to this rum's strongest aroma family
76 of 193 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Which glass for which rum? The community guide ›
Buying advice
Is it right for you?
Yes, if you're after bold, mature, oaky rums for sipping neat.
Similar in style and available now.
Fruitier
Velier Appleton Hearts Collection - 20028.5/10 (150)209.33 €
71 rated both: 16 scored it higher, 48 scored Velier Appleton Hearts Collection - 2003 higher, 7 gave both the same score.
More intense
Velier Appleton Hearts Collection - 19938.8/10 (131)302.00 €
70 rated both: 38 scored it higher, 20 scored Velier Appleton Hearts Collection - 2003 higher, 12 gave both the same score.
What does the community say?
193 community reviews
47 selected write-ups on this page, all of them in the RumX app
Top 16% of Jamaica rumsTop 12% at Appleton Estate
Rate it in the app
Positive from 8.0 · Mixed 6.0–7.9 · Critical below 6.0
Review by Oliver
Most helpful positive review
Very coherent low-ester Jamaican. Spicy, earthy and just the right amount of fruitiness.Very nice Abfüllubg! In the top 3 of the Hearts Collection series.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Most helpful mixed review
Very herbal, earthy-spicy nose with lots of glue and some banana. The taste is then extremely woody, bitter licorice, strongly burnt tones, nutmeg, iodine, menthol and glue, alcohol could be much better integrated and the fruit nodes are simply hard to find here even after almost an hour of breathing... Too woody, bitter and herbal for me personally and not quite what I look for & like in a Jamaica rum. I can't understand the hype & the price for this bottling with the best will in the world...🤷🏼♂️ but in direct comparison to the new 2002, it is much more harmonious and complex and also more drinkable! Update: almost passed for an old TDL in the blind test, awesome! Unfortunately I still don't warm to it, too bitter, too burnt, too alcoholic...
Review by Joachim Guger
A very nice balanced nose. Dried fruit dominates, restrained barrel maturity given the age. Unlike the other Hearts, no solvents. Alcohol perfectly integrated. In the mouth very powerful, full warm. Now very spicy and black olives. Complex. A great Appleton. High craftsmanship. Perhaps a bit too well-behaved at the end. Closest in flavor profile to the Rare Blend. Appleton Hearts 2003 - 2002 - 1993 Nose: All three very, very similar. Same marque? Banana bread, dried apples, licorice, caramel, fine spice, glue and glue. Powerful and warm. Compared to the 2003, the 2002 is a bit drier, dustier, a bit more licorice and less fruit . The 1993 is a bit woodier and more complex. All three great. Mouth: 2003 and 2002 again very similar. The 2002 a bit woodier and spicier. The 1993 then again... perhaps a touch too much. Conclusion: all three shine with a beautiful flavor profile. All three highest craftsmanship in terms of quality, integration of alcohol and wood maturity. The latter also applies to the 1993, 29 years of tropical storage and - matter of taste - just fine. Which one do I like best? Difficult decision, probably the 2002. What do I miss? The variety. How many marques can Appleton muster? Is that all after 7 bottlings? Edit: Now the bottle is empty. A great bottle, a pleasure every time.
Review by Jakob
Good rum, similar DNA, but somewhat fresher and with more fruit than the representatives from the 90s. Harmonious extension of the Hearts series, wonderfully demonstrates the potential of the "younger" tropically aged Appletons.
Review by zabo
Edit Edit: Day 7 in the 2024 calendar and completely wrong again. I hate blind tastings 🤣 Edit: A dream to be able to try the whole Appleton Hearts series. My conclusion would be that this is a really high-quality range. All in all, they are all great bottlings. I personally find it difficult to choose a true winner here. Only the 84 falls a little short. Both it and the 02 can't quite keep up, although that's complaining at a high level. However, if I had to choose one, it would probably be the 03, because it was the first one I tasted from the series. Day 3 RumX Calendar I've had a sample of this one sitting around for ages, I wish I'd opened it. A very tasty piece once again. Many thanks for that. Unfortunately it tasted so good that I had to buy another bottle.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
#4025 A nice complex nose with fruit, wood and some spice. A very fresh nose with earthiness to it. The palate is only lightly bitter with wood, light fruit, caramel and nuts in the foreground. The finish is medium to long with wood and dried fruit. Price to quality is pretty good when remeased.
Review by RumTaTa
A wonderful color in the glass: orange-red Nose: Wow, really heavy, red fruits, cherries, currants Palate: important, oily, roasted, oak, dark dried fruits. Because of the aroma, I'm thinking T.D.L but I don't taste any mint! Could still be a non-minty T.D.L. Because of the color probably a bit older, maybe 2000. Alcohol content ~60% Guessing RX590
Review by Maxence
Nose is quite nice with some spicy and earthy notes, some fruits and pastries. Mouth is quite similar. Everything is fine but not my kind of favorite profile 🤷
Review by Tschusikowsky
RumX Advent 3.12.23 The rum tastes like tropical aging, slightly salty, dried fruits, hints of lychees, cherry, possibly a bit of menthol/minty in the finish. Also a good portion of wood. Somehow it pulls me towards St. Lucia here. I find the alcohol very well integrated for that. My guess was: the Chairmans bottling from RumX and GotA. I find the rum very tasty. Retasting: St. Lucia impression remains. The alcohol is very strong but suitably integrated. The esters also make themselves felt in the mouth. Syrupy tobacco with lots of tropical fruits.
Review by Alex1981
RumX Calendar 2024 Day 7: first impression on the nose Funk & cookie dough, slightly alcoholic. Reminiscent of St. Lucia. Becomes better integrated with a little time in the glass, more sweetness appears in the background, sugar cane. Roasted notes and dark fruit are added. Delicious! Strong, edgy, alcoholic in the mouth. Seems to be quite high abv. Long finish, but the alcohol drowns out everything else. Nose top, mouth rather flop. Stick with St. Lucia, but could be anything.
Review by cigares
RumX Advent Calendar, Day 7. An expressive, complex nose with lots of fruit, pineapple and banana, but also yellow fruit, apple and quince, a sweet, herbaceous side. The wood is discreet. Expressive on the palate, the alcohol perfectly supports the fruit aromas, with more wood than on the nose. A smoky woodiness follows. The finish is moderately long, not so complex but incredibly well-balanced and tasty. An expressive and delicious rum!
Review by WiltChamberlain
A dream for single malt enthusiasts like me.
Review by Timo Groeger
RumX Advent calendar day 7 - for me the best so far. Has a really great nose, vanilla and caramel, but wood is also recognizable here. Continues on the palate, with chocolate and some liquorice. Many thanks to the RumX team.
Review by Christoph
Kiba (juice with cherry and banana). Pineapple and orange in the mouth. Out the back it becomes woodier and more bitter, but very pleasant. Alcohol extremely well integrated.
Review by Gunnar Böhme "Bauerngaumen" 🤓
Subsequent tasting of the rum from 03.12.2023 of the RumX Christmas calendar: Now that's a tasty treat! To my shame, I have to confess that I've never had an Appleton in my glass before. That's about to change, because this Appleton was really convincing. I particularly liked this warm, Jamaican oiliness.
Review by Manuel
RumX Advent Calendar 2024: No. 7 Very intense rum where the alcohol is well integrated. Would guess a somewhat longer tropical aging. Great aromas of vanilla, raisin and spices. I like it very much.
Review by LukaŽiga
8,8:On the nose, typical markers with esters, glue, tropical fruits like a banana, spicy and roasted wood with nuts, caramel, earthy molasses with tobacco. On aeration(really needed), an orange and a pineapple pop up, the molasses is herbaceous, dark with a licorice, the would helps burnt sugar and vanilla. 8,5:On the palate, the attack is mostly spicy, woody with a little help of banana, esters, solvents.It needs time to settle down, becomes balanced, indeed it is a complex rum.Roasted wood begets caramel, dark chocolate, nuts, burnt sugar is caramelized, the molasses is herbaceous and earthy with tobacco, dark with licorice.Some pineapple and orange help with rounding, unfortunately menthol doesn't,... well honey helps. 😃 8,6:The finish is dry and tannic, balanced, the molasses is mineral and minty, a tasty crunchy bread note shows up, even rubber, a combination of wood notes and tropical, dried fruits, honey keep the roundedness is in check. Edit:30.4.25
Review by mto75
Nose and palate are very consistent, a good balance of tropical and dried fruits, caramel, spices, cappuccino and subtle funk. The toasty notes come through a bit more on the palate, finishing with cocoa and a slight - not at all unpleasant - bitter note. On par with the 94!
Review by Giorgio Garotti
A bomb this Appleton!Intense, toasty with a very pronounced bitter note in the tasting but not annoying.With some aeration in the bottle it will definitely become rounder.Unquestionably a great rum!
Review by DomM
Very nice one. From memory at a level with the 94 - ahead of 95 and 99 Hearts.
Review by Thunderbird
A wonderful rum... very elegant, pleasant and complex! Simply beguiling!
Review by Boletus
Retasting as part of the RumX Advent calendar (Day 7): In the blind tasting, I thought the rum was a TDL with its wonderful interplay of fruits and fine-spicy woodiness. In the old tasting note, I still find myself, only this time the fruits leaned more towards stone fruits (peach, sour cherry, apricot). The rating doesn't change though; for me, it's still a top-class rum. Great aroma play with spices and fruits as well as deep oak aroma without bitterness. You don't always need a high ester content for an impressive Jamaican rum. For me, an absolute dream to enjoy!
Review by Basti
Edit: Nochmal neben den 2002 und 1994 verkostet. Der 2003er erinnert an der Nase durch Tabak, Lakritz und Leder entfernt etwas an einen PM. Am Gaumen leicht florale Untertöne. Für mich auf Augenhöhe mit dem 2002er, aber hinter dem 1994! Alkohol sehr gut integriert. Konnte mich allerdings nicht vollends überzeugen, da insgesamt etwas zu sehr auf der bitteren/lakritzigen Seite.
Review by Agricoler
Tag 7 RumX Adventskalender Sehr schöner Rum mit sehr schöner Mischung wie ich finde. Dezent südliche Komponenten durch Karamell und Trockenfrüchten. Sowie eine kleine Menge Ester+ tropische Frucht und ordentlich Holzeinfluss. Schöner Tropfen Auf Appleton wäre ich tatsächlich nicht zwingend gekommen Braucht ein wenig im Glas aber dann extrem lecker..
Review by Righrum
I expect this to be a Jamaican rum. Main traits on the nose are varnish, underripe bananas and an herbal side, almost tea-like, followed by overripe bananas, orange and, some leather and wood. A nice nose that reminds me mainly of Appleton. Good alcool integration, the palate is again dominated by banana and tea, some orange in the background.
Review by Beach-and-Rum 🏖️🌴
It needs a little time in the glass. But then it's Jamaica to my taste. Very accessible with a good balance between wood and fruit. The price is a little too high in my opinion, however.
Review by Serge
Tasty spicy and pleasant bitterness from the wood with great licorice notes, tobacco from the moist cigar wrapper when rolling and half-ripe banana. Almost passes as Demerara on the nose.
Review by TheRhumhoe
An intense, very flavorful Appleton, which needs a little time to open. The nose is very varied, with earthy notes of tobacco, tropical fruit, glue and ester, vanilla wood, coffee and caramel. The palate continues with spicy, roasted notes, with dark chocolate and licorice providing a hint of bitterness on the palate. The finish, long and true to the taste profile, brings a mineral, mentholated touch. A complex, intense, full-bodied but very tasty rum.
Review by Christian Rudt
Exciting continuation of the Hearts collection. There is first relatively much wood, a complex also earthy nose with Appleton typical round tropical fruit notes.If the nose is still restrained so turns the drop on the palate. Great intense orange-cola note in which a licorice stick was dipped. Then come impressions of dark chocolate and also a touch of tobacco. In the finish then predominantly woody and slightly mineral-bitter.For me, it ranks just behind 94(brilliantly round) and 95 (nice dirty) but clearly ahead of 99.
Review by Djehey
Here is a profile I like because it is indulgent and fruity but also complete. Both on the nose and palate, there are esters, fruit, and woodiness. The aromas balance well with a nice freshness despite feeling the age of the rum. Tasted blind, I guessed a Long Pond VRW of about fifteen years with alcohol below 60° (so it’s well integrated). But I’m happy to have discovered the Appleton Heart range in such a beautiful way :)
Review by SaibotZtar
RumX Adventskalender Tag 7 Tief fruchtige Würzige Nase mit Tropischen Anklängen... erinnert fast ein wenig an einen Long Pond. Banane, Mango und leichte Zitrusnoten. Alkohol sehr gut eingebunden. Am Gaumen auch schöne Tropische Früchte, leichte Ester und Würze . Etwas Holz mit wenig Bitterkeit. Gefällt mir ganz gut .
Review by Leo Krüper
Great rum. Wide pot still. I like from memory better than the 95. If only there was not the price :(
Review by Alessandro
Good, powerful and full. Fruit, wood, spices. One of the youngest in the series that shows the qualities of full-proof Appleton rums. I'll definitely have to pair it with its brothers in a future tasting to compare them.
Review by Godspeed
Unmistakably Jamaican on the nose. Promises depth. Wood varnish, lacquered oak, tropical fruit, more wood, yellow fruits, some banana, It’s heady and “enivrant” when nosed deeply. On the attack in the palate it is powerful yet controlled, delivering on the fruit and rounding out the wood. Delicious. Tremendous development of fruit on the mid-palate, clearly overpowering the wood, which has turned mahogany. More tropical fruit, and more detail of the fruit than on the palate. The true profile goes from ripe banana on the nose to pineapple-orange on the palate. Easy to hold a long time in the mouth (and requires this patience for the true fruits to come out) yet explosive in flavor. Very, very high quality. Medium to longish finish on the same notes turning slightly creamy. A Jamaican of tremendous quality. Worth every penny of its ~225€ asking price.
Review by Stylo
After trying the 94, 95 and 99 expression during the RumX Advent Calendar, it is time to taste this 2003! As its predecessors, I wouldn’t tell it’s a Jamaican: the nose is really more Guyanese, I initially get wood, licorice, red fruits (plums mainly), some tobacco and even a touch of mint. The funkiness is really in tamed. There’s also a pronounced sweetness (like burnt caramel) and a kick of spiciness (vanilla and possibly ginger). The palate is more Jamaican, with more tropical fruits (grilled pineapples). Is is mildly astringent. The finish is long, dry, with more wood, licorice and spicy. Another great rum from this series! Wish I could also try the 84…
Review by Filip Šikula
Rumy-X Advent calendar Oliver Gerhart 2024 Day 7 The Hearts range from Appleton is great in all released vintages. This one is no exception and the combination of wood, tropical fruit, and ester funky stuff from Jamaica works perfectly!
Review by Rowald Sweet Empire
Super fruity full powered Jamaican powerhouse. Baked pineapple. Superb balanced funk and esthers. Light anise spice. Flower perfume. Complex. This is very very delicious. Wish I had more than a sample.
Review by Tafia Guildive
Nice rum, as a smaller part in a Mai Tai with a Long Pond very tasty.
Review by Martin Švojgr
Great balanced rum, probably the most balanced from the Hearts edition.
Review by Volkmar Weber
Warm, earthy Jamaican that leans a bit towards Guyana. Subtle ester fruitiness, plus chocolate and sweet, strong cappuccino. No burning, no sharpness - alcohol very well integrated - the longer you give it time before drinking, the better. Also the oxidation in the bottle after a few months has a positive effect. The robust coffee notes come even more to the fore. The only criticism might be that it is a bit too round, pleasant and tame.
Review by Jarek
Franconian Rum Tasting Gang & Jakob, 2023-07-27 Teil 1: Diesmal alle Appleton Hearts am Start (1984, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2002 und 2003). Für mich bleibt der 1994er immer noch der Beste der Reihe, dicht gefolgt vom 1993 und 1998. Überraschend lecker war auch der 2002. An der Nase spielt der 1984 ganz vorne mit, fällt aber am Gaumen wegen des zu starken Holzeinflusses ab.
Review by w00tAN
Adventskalender 2024 Nr 7. In der Nase feine Esternoten, fruchtig, würzig und röstig. Im Mund schön kräftig, würzig mit Tabak und Holz. Esternoten sind im Mund wesentlich feiner als in der Nase. Abgang lang, holzig, bitter und würzig. Sehr lecker!
Review by Steffmaus🇩🇰
Tasted at the Whisky & Rum festival, the 27th of october, 2023. Tropical fruits and sweetness in the nose. Initially funky and spicy in the notes, then a taste of chocolate, vanilla, ginger and a slightly oaky taste
Review by Johannes Eisner
Good Appleton, but that was it. Had expected more after the first series (94/95/99). The 2nd price of ~300€ not worth it in any case.
Review by Banana Joe
Advent calendar #7 I would definitely guess a rum from Trinidad here. Nice dried fruit aromas, lots of wood, tannins. I just miss the mint. For the vintage, I lack experience. Definitely very tasty. Edit: Seriously? I would never have guessed that, but I still have a sample, I will taste it again calmly.
Review by Piotr Ignasiak
RX calendar 23, day 3 Really nice and quite complex. It may not be high ester but they are really noticable, especially on the nose. The taste besides the tropical basket has a clear wood undertone as well as sweetness and noticable dirtiness.
Review by Fuwi
Very great Jamaican, not a high ester representative. The cask doesn't dominate too much and is well integrated into the pleasant fruitiness. Together with the very well harmonizing alcohol it forms a very pleasant, complex rum.
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Expert reviews
3 critics scored it, averaging 9.1/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum.
Expert review by Rum Runner Labs
Read full review ›A really compelling installment in the Appleton Hearts collection. Fruity and earthy on the nose, its juicy without leaning much in the ethyl acetate direction. On the palate the cask shows up, plenty of spice and oak notes, balanced nicely with dried banana and pineapple. Satisfying finish.
Expert review by The Fat Rum Pirate
Read full review ›It is dangerously drinkable even at 63% ABV. I'll answer the question though which do I prefer the 1984 or 2003? I'd probably go for a bottle of this, given the choice - but I think both rums over something completely different. Both have been rums I have been really...
Expert review by Le Blog À Roger
Read full review ›
Velier Appleton Hearts Collection - 2003 at live auctions
A bid is not a final price: the house sets the buyer's premium, shipping and any customs duty.
All live auctions ›Community shelf
292 bottles logged by 216 collectors.
A collector's bottle.
8% opened, 17 emptied.
What does Velier Appleton Hearts Collection - 2003 cost?
Community paid 180–280 €.
Current best price: 193.14 € – within the typical community range.
Purchase prices reported by members, not a shop price. Avg. 195 €. Price history with 41 auction results in RX+ ›
292 purchased · 196 tasted · 76 wishlist · as of
Details about Velier Appleton Hearts Collection - 2003
A Pot Still Rum from Jamaica, bottled by Velier, at 63%.
Read on in the RumX Guide
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