A Snapshot in Time: Tasting Historic Rums with the UK Rum Club

A Rare Rum Tasting

One of the challenges of collecting old and rare rum is that it is rarely opened. Bottles from the mid-20th century and earlier are often admired rather than enjoyed, leaving many enthusiasts wondering how these historic spirits actually taste.

At Rum Auctioneer, our very founding was built on a love of opening and enjoying these older-style expressions. In collaboration with the UK Rum Club, we gave a group of members the opportunity to taste three amazing, seldom-opened rums. Each winner approached the tasting independently, without guidance or official notes, allowing the rums to speak for themselves.

Our UK Rum Club tasting panel included C. McCarthy, S. James, C. Edwards, N. Todd, N. Metcalfe and C. Cullen. What follows is a consolidated summary of the tasting impressions, drawing on all participants’ notes, including those of one of the UK Rum Club administrators.

About the UK Rum Club

The UK Rum Club is a Facebook group of rum enthusiasts from across the UK who share and discuss their interest in pure rum. This includes tastings, tasting notes, new releases, purchases, and educational content. It is a well-known community within the UK spirits scene, with over 3,000 followers. 

The Tasting Line-Up

• Trois Rivières 1953 Rhum Vieux Martinique

  A rare 1953 Martinique rhum vieux from Trois Rivières, showcasing the island’s distinctive AOC rhum agricole style and its expressive, terroir-driven character.

• Fine Old Jamaican Rum c.1940s Williams Standring Sandeman & Heatley

  A rare 1940s Jamaican rum bottled by a London wine merchant, offering a fascinating glimpse into the island’s pre-modern rum style and mid-century industry.

• Trinidad Distillers TMAH 1991 Cadenhead’s 24 Year Old

  A 1991 Trinidad Distillers rum, aged 24 years and bottled by Cadenhead’s, showcasing a rare snapshot of Trinidad’s evolving column-still tradition.

If you would like to know more about these rums, explore our guide which includes information and history behind each rum.

Trois Rivières 1953 Rhum Vieux Martinique

Image

This pre-AOC Martinique rhum proved to be one of the most intriguing and unexpected pours of the tasting.

On the nose, the panel immediately noticed different things. C. McCarthy was drawn to fresh doughnuts and marzipan, while S. James picked up coconut, hazelnuts, citrus oils and even damp wood. N. Todd found himself in the fruitier corner, with candied fruit, raisins, mango and under-ripe banana.

The palate revealed the rum’s complexity. McCarthy detected vegetal whispers of cucumber and celery, while Todd experienced a much drier, sherry-like profile with herbal and aniseed notes. Metcalfe was particularly impressed by the brightness, picking out citrus zest, coconut and vanilla, remarking on how fresh and vibrant it felt for its age.

The finish is short to medium, fading gently into spiced wood, yet the impression lingers offering a vivid window into Martinique rum-making in the early 1950s.

It doesn't like to stick around on the palate as the finish is super short and ushers out the experience with spiced wood. A great snapshot in time and a real treat to be able to try it.

- S. James, UK Rum Club Member

Fine Old Jamaican Rum c.1940s

Williams Standring Sandeman & Heatley

Image

This bottling challenged many modern expectations of Jamaican rum. On the nose, there was a gentle restraint. McCarthy found it immediately appealing with sweet, dessert-like aromas reminiscent of rum and raisin ice cream, while James noticed caramel-led notes with just a light medicinal and coconut character. C. Cullen agreed, describing soft caramel and oak rather than overt fruit or funk.

The palate revealed more depth. Todd described a dark, brooding character with sultanas, tobacco leaf, sweet tea and over-ripe mango, while C. Edwards highlighted an initial sweetness of caramel and molasses balanced with herbal and tropical fruit notes. Metcalfe was surprised by how much bigger the rum felt on the palate compared to the nose, drawing comparisons to muted Appleton and classic Jamaican blends.

The finish lingered longer than expected, particularly given the likely lower ABV. Across the group, the rum was seen as a quietly rewarding and educational tasting - a glimpse into a Jamaican style far removed from today’s high-ester focus.

I expected more funk, which was there but dialled back. It was drier than it's nose yet the sweetness smouldered underneath. Dark and brooding.

N. Todd, UK Rum Club Member

Trinidad Distillers TMAH 1991

Cadenhead’s 24 Year Old

Image

The Trinidad Distillers release was the most immediately assertive of the three and, for several tasters, the clear standout.

On the nose, the rum announced itself with confidence. Metcalfe described furniture polish, honeydew melon and caramel, alongside light industrial notes, while James picked up fragrant wood, wax, marzipan, dried fruits and even hints of tar. Todd was drawn to rich fruitcake, baked banana and over-ripe mango, with a hint of wood smoke.

The palate delivered intensity and complexity in equal measure. James highlighted an oily mouthfeel packed with barrel spice, jammy fruits, citrus oils and roasted nuts, while Todd described it as a “huge flavour bomb” overflowing with tropical fruit, caramel, sea salt and spice. Metcalfe found the balance between sweet and savoury particularly compelling with petrol, dried fruits, vanilla and oak combining into a long, evolving finish.

For many, this rum demonstrated just how expressive well-aged Trinidadian spirit can be, particularly when bottled at a higher strength. It was repeatedly described as engaging, complex and an absolute joy to return to.

My favourite by a distance! Loads going on for both the nose and the palate. You can keep finding new things for ages with this. Brilliant rum. Has bits of the Fiji 2003 and 2014 vintage along with St Lucia Vendome still.

N. Metcalfe, UK Rum Club Member

Final Thoughts

One of the most rewarding parts of this tasting was seeing how differently each participant experienced the same rums. While certain flavour themes emerged, it was often the contrasts, the unexpected notes and surprising impressions, that proved most fascinating.

For us at Rum Auctioneer, this tasting did exactly what we hoped: it allowed rare and historic bottles to be opened, shared and discussed within a passionate community, while reinforcing that rum tasting is as much about personal discovery as it is about shared reference points.

A big thank you to all our participants for sharing their insights, enthusiasm, and tasting notes which brought these historic rums alive.