Appleton Estate Reserve Jamaica Rum beat out over 30 other international brands in the rum category, scoring 96 out of a possible 100.
Winning an accolade from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC) is a coveted stamp of approval within the spirits industry. Only the highest quality products are able to achieve high marks in the rigorous scoring process employed by the USC.
In commenting on the award, Andy Holmes, COO of the International Division of J. Wray & Nephew Limited, the brand owner of the Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum Brand, noted that the company was very proud of the achievement.
"It is very rewarding when our products are recognised for their quality and are declared top in their category by independent, internationally acclaimed bodies such as the USC. This accolade is especially rewarding as Appleton Estate Reserve is one of our finest blends and is a creation of our master blender, Joy Spence.
The USC is one the most respected spirits and wine evaluation competitions. It was founded by spirits guru and award-winning author F. Paul Pacult with the mission of creating a higher standard of evaluation for spirits and wines that was accurate, meaningful and useful. The USC's mission is based on performing their duties with integrity and precise methodology, and their results are widely regarded by the spirits industry as the most relevant and credible rating of the world's spirits.
This award was given to only 31 of the 650 spirits entered in the 2012 challenge.
Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum and Appleton Estate Extra 12 Year Old Jamaica Rum both received a score of 93 and an 'Excellent; Highly Recommended' rating in the competition, placing both among the top-eight rums in the world.