Restaurants on the Rum with Appleton Estate: A Fusion of Flavor and Heritage

That soul has been poured some of Jamaica’s most popular restaurants through a programme dubbed Appleton Estate’s Restaurants on the Rum-a gastronomic journey that invites chefs to explore the depth, nuance, and narrative of Appleton Estate rums—blending their notes of citrus, spice, oak, and molasses with bold island flavours.

Overtime, Appleton Estate has connected with restaurants islandwide curating special menus or signature dishes, paired with one of Appleton Estate’s premium expressions—like the smooth and honeyed Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve, the deep and complex 12 Year Old Rare Casks, or the luxurious 21 Year Old Nassau Valley Casks.

Appleton Estate is bringing to the forefront, educational pointers to food connoisseurs and rum/cocktail lovers, by merging these two entities and highlighting ways in which you can elevate the way you eat.

Some of these pairings include:

• Appleton Estate Signature Blend Cocktails Golden Mojito Seafood Pasta
• Appleton Estate Sour – Seafood/Pasta
• Jamaican Mule – Steak/Red Meat

Golden Mojito – Seafood/Pasta

Ingredients:

• 6-8 mint leaves
• 1.5 oz Appleton Estate Signature
• 1 oz Simple Syrup
• 1 oz Lime Juice
• Club Soda

Instructions:
In a shaker, gently muddle the mint leaves and simple syrup. Add the remaining ingredients (except club soda) and shake with a few pieces of ice. Empty into a tall glass and add crushed ice. Top off with a splash of club soda. Garnish with mint and serve with a straw.

A premium twist on a classic cocktail. The dried fruit flavors of the rum, vibrant lime along with the refreshing nature of the mint adds a wonderful freshness to the taste of seafood and intensifies the experience.

Ingredients:

• 0.5 oz Lime Juice
• 1 oz Strawberry or Fruit Punch Syrup
• 1.5 oz Appleton Estate Signature
• 3 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1 oz Orange Juice

Instructions:
Shake all ingredients over ice then strain over ice.

The fruity flavours from the rum and syrups, balanced citrus and sweetness makes for a refreshing companion with spicy dishes. Nothing beats a Jamaican rum punch, especially a sophisticated one.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Appleton Estate 8YO
• 0.5 oz Lime Juice
• 3 oz Chilled Ginger Beer
• 3 dashes of bitters

Instructions:
Shake rum and lime juice over ice and strain into a tall ice filled glass. Add ginger beer and bitters and stir.

This combination adds a dash of holiday spice, honeyed notes and oak from the rum with a great explosion of ginger that brings even more flavor to a nicely done steak. It is also a refreshing contrast to the steak as well.

Rum Old Fashioned – Steak/Red Meat

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Appleton Estate 12YO
• 0.75 oz Spiced Brown Sugar Syrup
• 3 dashes Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Place rum, syrup and bitters in a shaker and stir until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube. Express an orange peel over the top of the drink then garnish with the peel.

Beautiful, toasted oak, dried fruity notes, chocolate, molasses and vanilla notes really stand out as a wonderful collage of flavors to compliment your steak. Perfectly balanced with just the right hint of sweetness and citrus from the origin peel. This combination is an extra level of savoriness you won’t soon forget.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Appleton Estate 12-Year-Old
• 1 oz Coffee Liqueur
• 1 oz Simple Syrup
• 1 oz Espresso

Instructions:
Shake all ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with 3 coffee beans on top, Did someone say sophisticated and elegant desert?

Nothing beats the elegance of vanilla, toasted oak and dried fruits and coffee paired with your favorite chocolate or other rich and decadent desserts. This combination will leave you wanting more and more.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Appleton Estate 12-Year-Old
• 1 oz Coffee Liqueur
• 1 oz Brown Sugar Syrup
• 1 oz Heavy Cream

Instructions:
Shake all ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled glass. Grated nutmeg for garnish. Decadent chocolate, coffee, vanilla, toasted oak and dried fruity notes emanate from the rum. Combined with rich brown sugar and even more coffee and presented with rich cream with beautiful nutmeg.

This creative process is important as it educates us on how we should pair and savour food and flavours when we are dining with friends, family or loved ones. Restaurants on the Rum with Appleton Estate can be viewed as a cultural celebration. This experience beautifully bridges the worlds of fine spirits and gastronomy, showcasing how Appleton Estate’s globally revered rums can elevate local dining through expertly curated food pairings.

Beyond taste, it honours Jamaica’s rich heritage, creativity, and terroir, positioning rum as a storyteller. Each pairing tells a tale of craft, tradition, and innovation, offering diners a deeper connection to Jamaican culture. Whether for locals rediscovering their roots or visitors exploring the island’s flavours, Restaurants on the Rum is a flavorful reminder that Appleton Estate represents who we are as a nation.