The Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience
“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience is a historic and culturally significant Estate in Jamaica. But I never visited until now. My YouTube channel will feature content showcasing enjoyable adventures in St Ann.
Arriving at the Appleton Estate
We had to take a few photos before the crowd
When I was looking for a river head in Williamsfield, St. Elizabeth, I stumbled upon the Appleton Rum Tour for the first time.
I became obsessed with visiting every waterfall in Jamaica. Years later, I decided to satisfy my thirst for knowledge about the culinary history and culture of rum by taking the ultimate Appleton Rum Tour.
At 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning, I set out for downtown Kingston, walking past the Darling Street police station on my way to the bus park.
Incredible, really. I guess he knew about all my antics.
I boarded a minibus bound for Santa Cruz.
Welcome to the lobby. Before the tour started, I snapped some photos. People were staring at my sister and me.
W could not stop taking photos.
I had to wait thirty minutes for the bus to fill up because there were only four people on it.
The bus driver took our JMD 1,000.00 fare and handed out our tickets before setting off for St. Elizabeth.
I was fortunate enough to secure a window seat on the bus.
Mini-Theature, where we watched the seven-minute film about the history of the Appleton Estate.
The worst seats on the bus are located in the middle, where a makeshift bench has been fashioned out of a piece of plywood in an effort to maximize revenue.
Nothing but the back of the seat in front of you is available for support.
They have a crush on each other
As soon as the bus left the park in Mandeville, I called my sister Asheka to tell her to get ready to ride it to St. Elizabeth.
I was thrilled that my sister and I would get to spend some quality time together.
While listening to music, I began crocheting a cover for my tripod.
The gentle breeze that had been caressing my face eventually lulled me to sleep.
I bet Asheka that we'd get to Santa Cruz before she did, and I came out on top.
Santa Cruz is a major town in St. Elizabeth, and the bus driver cursed it after making several stops there for gas, food, and passengers.
One of the Jamaican restaurants I visited was called Mother's.
Two soy patties were purchased, but they were not nearly as tasty as the one I had previously purchased in Kingston.
The reason I made myself eat the patty was because I was going to drink alcohol.
In addition, I was hesitant to throw away JMD 260.00.
Just a few minutes later, my sister landed in Santa Cruz.
To get to the Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience in Nassau Valley in Siloah on the south coast of Jamaica, we inquired about taxis.
Tuesday through Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm; closed on major holidays. Since we were taking the bus, we aimed to arrive before the crowds.
It wasn't even 11 o'clock at night when we hurried to the taxi stand in the blazing heat.
I had to find a mini-waterfall.
As I mentioned before, I've already been on this tour route three times looking for Breadnut Valley Waterfalls and once looking for a river head.
We took the St. Elizabeth Scenic Route and arrived at the Appleton estate ten minutes later. Each person contributed JMD $300.
The grounds and buildings of The Appleton Estate are stunning, and they have been meticulously cared for.
At the start of the tour, we presented our Jamaican IDs at the front desk and paid the JMD 3,000.00 fee.
The tour guide told us to return in half an hour for the next available tour.
So, we used the facilities and got dressed for the tour.
After snapping some photos and videos outside, we headed inside to claim our free rum.
That bartender blew my mind. When I asked if we could take some photos together, he agreed.
It was hilarious how he pretended to talk to me for the sake of a few pictures.
Since my sister and I were the only ones to have brought a tripod, all eyes were on us.
The tour started with a visit to a lookout tower that overlooked a picturesque valley. A seven-minute video was shown to us, detailing the origins of Appleton Estate Rum.
Tiffany, our tour guide, was excellent in every way.
According to our sources, a 50-year-old rum produced by Appleton Estate and marketed as "Jamaica Independence Reserve" is the oldest rum currently on the market.
This exceptional rum was bottled in only 800 limited edition bottles.
Visit the Appleton Estate, a rum distillery famous for producing one of the finest and most sought-after rums in the world.
This spirited excursion to what has been called "one of the Caribbean's best distilleries to visit" includes hearing fascinating tales about the estate's history and the island's pivotal role in the rum trade's early days.
We then observed the traditional process of pressing sugarcane with a donkey.
A sociable fellow, he was. He seems to have a thing for my sis. We posed for pictures with him, and he obliged.
We tour one of the Estate's barrel houses, where the rums are aged to perfection, and observe the distillation process in pot stills that are 200 years old.
We sampled molasses and sugar cane juice straight from the press.
The property made for great pictures. I couldn't decide where to take photos.
I lingered after the tour group had left so that I could photograph the estate in all its glory.
Gift shop
Our guide took us to the oak barrels where the wine was aging and continued the tour. At this spot, I was able to capture a stunning image.
Next, we tried some Appleton Estate Signature Rum, which, at four years old, was just fine. There are stronger options, such as the Appleton Estate Eight-Year-Old Reserve and the Appleton Estate Twelve-Year-Old Rare Cask. I gave it a try with some chocolate. The cost of a bottle of rum increased with its age. Here, our tour comes to its conclusion.
The elegant full-service restaurant and bar, which features both indoor and outdoor seating, is wafting with the aroma of a traditional Jamaican lunch.
We've both resolved to order something new the next time we're there.
We perused the souvenir stall, then made our way to the highway, where we snapped a few pictures before hopping in a cab to Santa Cruz.
Have you visited The Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience? I would love to hear about your experience in the comments below!