Appleton Rum Tour
on George Hamilton (Jamaica), 10/Nov/2010 01:29, 34 days ago
I am so full from eating non-stop all day. Not knowing what was in store for me I ate breakfast before leaving home.Once the bus engine started up we were distributed sandwiches and of course all the free rum we wanted, starting at 9:00 am. When we arrived at the Estate we were given a rum punch and a full Jamaican breakfast of ackee and salt fish, mackerel run down, calalloo, fried plantain, boiled bananas and all the festival you wanted heaped on your plate. We thought that was our free lunch since it was served at noon but it turns out, that was breakfast!After our tour, tasting/sniffing seminar and presentation of certificates we were served lunch at 3:00 which consisted of chicken, fish, sweet potato, rice and peas, and rum pudding for dessert. Oh and did I mention all the rum you wanted? When we asked for coffee, they topped it up with rum cream...oh so yummy.I realize it's not our norm to head out on a Tuesday for a rum tour, but this was the monthly meeting of the Canadian Women's Club which is normally held at the High Commission. This was a special meeting. J. Wray and Nephew invited the club for a free day at the Appleton Rum Estate. The bus was free, the food was free, and all the rum we could drink was free as well. How could we say no? As it turns out we were happy we went - it was a fun day. We were given a sit-down rum tasting with white linen table cloths and a place setting each of 6 glasses with various rum samples plus a slide show. The only one we didn't sample was the 30 year old blend. Too bad but the 12 year old sample was pretty good.People won prizes for various crazy things. One woman won a gift box of V/X rum and two glasses just beacause she was the first person to order a rum drink on the bus in the morning. Others won prizes for asking questions at the seminar and we were all given ball caps and of course the free bottle of rum at the end. On a previous visit as regular tourists we were given Appleton Special rum. This time we were given the better quality V/X.Mike, the official Appleton camera man liked Coreena, following her around the Estate. He had her posing for his camera so Steph and I also jumped up onto the cart with her. Well, OK, I couldn't quite make it onto the cart so I hung out behind. I don't think they knew I was there.One of the interesting facts about this tour is that in this tiny little factory, they produce all the Appleton Rum that is distributed world wide.What a fun day and it was completely free.