Appleton Estate has released the 2026 release of Hearts Collection 1999, now aged for 26 years.
First released in 2020, the distillery’s new vintage has spent five additional tropical years aging. Crafted in Nassau Valley by Master Blender Dr. Joy Spence in partnership with rum connoisseur Luca Gargano, this release celebrates the rarity and artistry of the Estate’s 100% pot-still rums.
As the oldest continuously operating rum distillery in Jamaica, Appleton Estate is known for its inventory of aged rums, and the Hearts Collection is an ode to that legacy. Each release begins with Dr. Spence selecting barrels from the nearly 200,000 casks aging in the estate’s warehouses, one of the largest rum collections in the world. The 2026 Hearts Collection 1999 is a single proprietary expression distilled in a Forsyth Pot Still, bottled in 2025, reflecting the character of the Estate’s reserves and Dr. Spence’s blending.
“1999 has become more memorable,” said Appleton Estate Master Blender Dr. Joy Spence. “Returning to these casks revealed liquid of exceptional quality, that had only grown more delicious and complex with every passing year. We simply could not keep it to ourselves.”
Hearts Collection 1999 personifies the quality and expertise of Appleton Estate. Drawn from just 10 casks, this limited expression joins Appleton Estate’s most coveted and collectable releases.
The debut Hearts Collection vintages, named in tribute to the heart of Jamaica, were released in 2020 and were the first single-marque pot-still rums ever released by Appleton Estate. With each release produced in extremely limited quantities and sought after globally, Hearts Collection has become one of the most coveted series in premium rum. The 2026 release joins eight previous Hearts Collection expressions: 1994, 1995, 1999, 1984, 2003, 1993, 2002 and 1998.
Appleton Estate Hearts Collection 1999 is available for $500.
