Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Left: Appleton Estate's Paul Henriques (left) with Joy Spence, David Morrison and Michelle Tulloch.   Right: Drink your Appleton down boys! Enjoying the new Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum, Master Blenders' Legacy, are (from left) Newton Forrest, Alva Anderson, Christopher Chin-Loy and Rajiv Bakshi. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

There's a new taste of Appleton on the market and it's a whopper.

The Appleton Estate Master Blenders' Legacy was launched at Devon House on Monday, and the words from the lips that tasted it are all favourable.

As the name suggests, this new brew is the work of three generations of master blenders. The heart of the Legacy is a 30 year-old mixture first created by Owen Tulloch. The added ingredients were blended in with the expertise of his successor Joy Spence, ably assisted by her protégé David Morrison. It was a minor shame that Tulloch is not alive to see the evolution of some of his work. His granddaughter, Michelle Tulloch of Margaritaville, accepted a special plaque on his behalf.

Introduction

It was Spence who had the honour of introducing the rum to an audience who by then had tasted some of the new stuff and were quite enthused. So graphic was her introduction, it began to sound like a dish, not a luxury rum! And speaking of dishes, with spirits taking the place of wines at the dinner table, the Appleton was served with delectable lamb along with shrimp and Thai chicken.

Guests tried the new Legacy with a variety of chasers, on the rocks or as recommended, neat (no ice, no nothing!) Of course for the 'seasoned' drinkers, there was always the Appleton Reserve and others from the repertoire of the rum company.

Latest success

The rum is expected to be the latest in a string of successes for the company. David McConnell, Appleton's Managing Director of Global Marketing Division, attributed the success to support of Jamaicans for the brand, the proficiency of the team and the customers and distributors of the world-famous rum.

Guests included Tony Ray, Greta Bogues, Ambassador Dr. Matthew Beaubrun, Taynia Nethersole, Zein and Chris Nakash, John Junor, Janet Fagan, Dr. Aggrey Irons and wife , Stephanie Scott, Yvon DeSulme, Anya Schnoor, Jonathan and Paula Surtees, Nancy McLean, John and Claudette Ellis, Derek Jones and Neville Bell.