Dead Reckoning Private Timothy Aplin

Description

17 rums…50% of the profits to the Zero 79 foundation and it honours one of our best. The 3rd in the Dead Reckoning ‘Commando’ series, The Dead Reckoning Private Timothy Aplin!

The Dead Reckoning Private Timothy Aplin is the third in the ongoing Dead Reckoning ‘Commando’ series of rums that commemorate Australian commandos lost in the Afghanistan conflict. Each of these rums has words from the soldier’s family commemorating the lives of these incredible men who served our country with distinction, and ultimately sacrificed their lives in this service.

Dead Reckoning’s Private Timothy Aplin release is an absolute monster of a blend from Dead Reckoning, comprised of no less than 17 rums from all over the world! There’s Aussie, Vanuatu, Martinique, Mauritius Trinidad, Guyana, Nicaragua, America and (of course) Barbados! <takes deep breath>. All these given a solid dose of the fast-becoming-famous ‘Adelaide Dry Climate Maturation’ treatment and bottled at 43%.

Tim, 38 years of age was serving with the special operations task group (SOTG) in Afghanistan when he tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash as it was flying into action on Monday 23rd June 2010. It was during his 2nd tour to Afghanistan serving with SOTG that he made the supreme sacrifice.

50% of profits from each release will go to the Zero79 foundation that provides support for current and former serving commandos and their families.

The Zero79 Foundation holds the distinct honour of being the sole registered charity in the country dedicated exclusively to providing support for current and former serving Commandos and their families. With profound connections within the commando community, we actively utilise these ties to maintain our relevance and agility in addressing the unique needs of our beneficiaries. The Foundation stands as a steadfast pillar, committed to providing unwavering support to Commandos and their families.

 

 

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: There’s a definite base of Werther’s Original, but layered on top is some sweet, over-ripe fruit salad with just a pinch of acetone and other miscellaneous esters floating around there – like mashed banana, pineapple and strawberry (classic Jamaican funk? – you betcha!), plus some old-barrel mustiness, all smoothed out with a delicious creaminess.

Palate: Bottled at ‘just’ 43%abv, this has no shortage of stopping power – that’s for sure! The flavours are simply immense! A luxuriously viscous mouthfeel is the first thing you notice – with a medium spice hit on the first sip (this diminished remarkably quickly over subsequent sips) but then a delicious cornucopia of sweet caramel sauce, rich vanilla custard, flambéed fruit and just-out-of-the-oven shortcrust pastry.

Finish: The Werther’s Original note returns with a vengeance as the slow fade begins. But there’s more – an aniseed/licoricey note flutters about alongside some ginger, all spice and fresh vanilla pod.

The very first sniff I had was strait out of the bottle outside the Post Office (excited to see what the latest DR was like…? Guilty as charged!) and I was convinced it was ‘just’ a huge caramel bomb! But on getting it into a decent glass, it turns out it’s way more than that. Way, WAAAY more! So many layers to this one – a super creamy caramel base that just oozes spicey fruit sweetness and pastry notes by the bucketload! Complex, chewy, fruity and creamy! Trust me… BUY TWO! (You’ll kick yourself if you don’t AND it’s for a good cause!)

Private Timothy Aplin

Timothy Aplin, known as “Tim”, was born in May 1972, the only son of Margaret Aplin of Brisbane, Queensland. He spent most of his formative years surrounded by a large extended family of cousins, aunts, and uncles in the Western suburbs of Brisbane.

In the mid-1980s Tim travelled with his mother to Europe, where he relished visits to the Imperial War Museum and the National Army Museum in London, as well as the Arc de Triumph and Musée de l’Armée in Paris. According to Margaret, “Tim was letting me know where his future was heading”.

After completing year 12, Tim studied Agricultural Science at Gatton College, Brisbane, before enlisting in the Australian Army under the Ready Reserves Scheme in February 1992. Following school, Tim underwent training at Kapooka and Singleton, he served as a private in the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, rising to the rank of corporal.
After 12 months of full-time service Tim went part-time and for the next two years continued studying in Brisbane.

He enlisted in the Regular Army in 1995 and was posted to 1RAR in Townsville, fulfilling a lifelong dream to become a full-time soldier. There he met his first wife, whom he married in April 1998, and they soon began a family. In 2000 the couple welcomed their daughter followed by their son in 2002.

Tim developed into a proficient soldier. Rising to the rank of sergeant, he deployed to East Timor in 2000 to help provide security during the country’s transition to independence.
He went with 2RAR to Iraq in 2003, forming part of the first security detachment to ensure the safety of Australian government and military personnel in Baghdad following the overthrow of Ba’athist dictator Saddam Hussein. On his return to Townsville Tim remained with 2RAR with one of his appointments the Sergeant of 2 RAR Pioneers.

Tim, at the age of 36, was determined to undertake the Special Forces selection process, and after a gruelling six-week selection and training course he qualified for entry into 4RAR (Commando), the now 2 Commando Regiment. On the day Tim was offered his entry to 4RAR (Commando) he was also offered his promotion to Warrant Officer, 2 RAR. Tim chose the Commandos.

Based at Holsworthy in Sydney, Tim willingly accepted a reduction in rank to Private, whereupon he trained as a team demolitions specialist and deployed to Afghanistan with the SOTG in January 2009. Based at Camp Russell at the multinational task force base at Tarin Kot, Tim was involved in counter-insurgency operations in Uruzgan and adjoining provinces in southern Afghanistan. At that time the Commandos were involved in heavy fighting in neighbouring Helmand province in an effort to disrupt the supply of arms feeding the insurgency in Uruzgan.

After a brief return to Australia in 2009, Tim deployed once again to Afghanistan, where the SOTG continued to target the insurgency.

In Operation Hamkani, a four-day disruption operation in the Shah Wali Kot district of northern Kandahar province, the Commandos contributed to the defeat of more than 100 Taliban insurgents. For this, Special Operations Command received the first battle honour awarded to an Australian Army unit since the Vietnam War.

In the early hours of 21 June 2010 an American UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed while transporting Australian commandos near Shah Wali Kot. Among the 14 casualties on board was Private Timothy Aplin, who was one of three Australians who died in the crash.

He was brought home and buried with full military honours in the Native Garden at the Mount Gravatt Crematorium in Brisbane.

He was 38 years old.

Lest We Forget.