Appleton Estate, a global leader in premium aged rums, announces the launch of the limited-edition 17 Year Old Legend – an exclusive and faithful recreation of the legendary 17 Year Old rum crafted by J. Wray & Nephew on the Estate in the 1940s. The J. Wray & Nephew 17 Year Old is known around the world as the storied inspiration for the creation of the Mai Tai cocktail. The rum has become one of the most sought-after bottles in the world, and today, a tribute to this legend of cocktail history returns to the world stage as a limited offering – good news for both rum connoisseurs and classic cocktail enthusiasts alike.

Appleton Estate 17 Year Old Legend is an emblem of the distillery’s unrivaled history of crafting exceptional aged rums. Referencing original manuscripts and formulas, legendary Master Blender Joy Spence created this one-time release using four very rare distillates set aside to rest on the Estate to best recreate the taste profile of the prized golden blend. 17 Year Old Legend is the gift of one of the oldest aging rum libraries in the world, and soon to be a jewel of the finest rum collections. Due to the rarity of the distillates, only 1,500 bottles are available globally, never to be produced again.

Victor concocted a unique cocktail using subtle ingredients, which he named "Maita'i roa a'e", which means "the best in the world" in Tahitian. Thus was born the famous Mai Tai cocktail, which has become a legend in the world of cocktails.

This limited edition has been carefully crafted by revisiting the authentic recipe of the 1940s, using only four very rare distillates that have been specially preserved on the Appletonestate. This rum has become one of the most sought-after bottles in the world, and today, a tribute to this legend of cocktail history returns to the world stage in the form of a limited edition. Only 1,500 bottles were produced, and they will never be reproduced identically. The rum Appleton 17 years was distilled in 2005 and then aged entirely for 17 years in barrels in the tropical climate, before being bottled in 2022.

Joy Spence Master Blender at Appleton Estate said:

With our 17 year old Legend, we knew we had a particular story to tell, this project took years to materialize and it really is one of the great challenges of my career. By defilefully recreating the beautiful taste profile of the original rum, we have created an expression that pays tribute to our own heritage and the legacy of the cliassic cocktail.