February 2025 Auction

Bacardi 8 Year Old Millennium Baccarat Decanter 75cl

This limited edition, presented in an engraved Baccarat decanter was produced to celebrate the turn of the millennium in 2000. The rum was finished in ex-Sherry casks.

One of the largest family-owned drinks companies in the world, Bacardi can trace their history back to Santiago de Cuba in 1862. Facundo Bacardi Massó was a Spanish Wine Merchant hailing from Catalonia who began distilling rum upon his arrival in Cuba. At the time, rum was quickly and cheaply made and carried a low reputation. After ten years of experimentation, he constructed two different distilleries which would each produce a different style of spirit: Aguardiente, a robust style and Redestillado, a delicate style. The result was his ability to perfectly balance the two styles of spirit and launch the first clear (white) mixable rum in the world. He quickly saw success and began to grow his empire with the purchase of a third distillery. This new facility came along with a colony of fruit bats which became the inspiration for the Bacardi logo and is still in use today. Having moved their headquarters from Cuba to Nassau in opposition to General Batista's government in the 1950s, its Cuban assets were then seized by Fidel Castro in 1959 and its has never returned to its home country. Today the company is Bermuda-based, distilling most of its rum in Puerto Rico, however over the years has also operated facilities in Mexico, Brazil, Canada and Spain. After seven generations of growth, Bacardi’s portfolio of brands became extensive. After a 1993 merger with Martini & Rossi, deals were also struck with Dewar’s and Diageo for brands and distilleries in the Scotch whisky industry. Today, they are one of the most famous names in the history of rum and their wide range of products can be found in over 170 countries across the world.

Baccarat Crystal was founded in the commune of the same name in north-eastern France in 1764. The company was given permission to start the manufacture of window panes, mirrors and stemware by King Louis XV but it wasn't until 1816 when the first crystal oven was installed. For well over 250 years the company has become renowned for its high quality and craftsmanship.

Brugal Papa Andres Family Collection 2013

Brugal was founded by Andrés Brugal Montaner in 1888, in the town of Puerto Plata on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. When he left his home in Spain, Brugal had initially been located in Cuba where he honed his rum making craft. Today the brand is known around the world as one of the “three B’s” of Dominican rum, alongside Bermudez and Barcelo. The distillery is a modern facility, built in 1986 in San Pedro de Macoris, which ferments local sugarcane to make molasses, and operated three pairs of two-column continuous stills. The company’s ageing and blending facilities remain in its historic home of Puerto Plata. In 2008 the company ceased to be Brugal family-owned for the first time, after the sold a 60% stake to Scottish distillers, the Edrington Group.

A very limited 2013 release of just 500 bottles

Black Tot Last Consignment

On July 31st 1970 a 300 year old Royal Naval tradition ended at precisely 6 bells in the forenoon watch when the last rum ration was issued aboard ships of the British Royal Navy. A day to be forever remembered as Black Tot Day. Original Royal Navy records confirm that the rum used for the rum ration was lost likely imported from the West Indies in oak casks by E.D. & F, Nab & Co, official rum merchants to the Navy since 1784. It was transferred into large oak marrying vats in the historic victualling warehouses of Deptford in east London, Gosport or Devonport from where it was dispatched to British Royal Naval ships.

Bottled by Speciality Drinks, this bottle of Black Tot contains the Last Consignment of the original Royal Naval Rum and was bottled from the original Imperial Gallon Stone Flagons into which it had been filled and sealed under HM Customs and Excise supervision in December 1970.

Speciality Drinks was established in 1999 as the independent bottling arm of The Whisky Exchange, which launched its online retail site the same year. Their first bottlings were under the Single Malts of Scotland label in 2005, followed by the Elements of Islay range and Port Askaig single malt brand in 2006 and 2009, respectively. The company was renamed Elixir Distillers in 2017.

This bottle was originally released in an elegant wooden case alongside a Tot cup, a rum ration card and a book about the history of Black Tot written by rum expert, Dave Broom.

Bielle 2004 Rhum Vieux

Bielle is one of three distilleries on the island of Marie Galante in the Guadeloupe archipelago. It was founded at the end of the 19th century as rum production began to take over following the decline in profitability of sugar. The distillery was acquired by Paul Rameaux in 1955, and today is still run by his nephew, Dominique Thiery. Bielle produces around 320,000 litres of agricole rum on its column still every year. It also houses a bespoke Muller pot still, designed by Italian grappa maker Vittorio Capovilla for his Rhum Rhum collaboration with Luca Gargano of Velier.

This was distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2014.

Bolivar Ron Carta Blanca 1970s

An old bottle of white rum produced using pure cane juice. 

Bellevue 1998 Nobilis Rum 23 Year Old

Not to be confused with the larger Damoiseau distillery in the Bellevue estate of Grande-Terre, the Bellevue distillery is located at the heart of the largest sugarcane plantation on Marie Galante, a neighbouring island of the Guadeloupe archipelago. It was established in 1821 and today produces white and aged rum agricole on its continuous column still. Bellevue was the first fully eco-friendly distillery in the Caribbean, committing to recycling 100% of its waste products.

This 1998 vintage was bottled for Nobilis Rum after 23 years in cask.

Bielle 2023 Zero Nine Spirits 50cl

Bielle is one of three distilleries on the island of Marie Galante in the Guadeloupe archipelago. It was founded at the end of the 19th century as rum production began to take over following the decline in profitability of sugar. The distillery was acquired by Paul Rameaux in 1955, and today is still run by his nephew, Dominique Thiery. Bielle produces around 320,000 litres of agricole rum on its column still every year. It also houses a bespoke Muller pot still, designed by Italian grappa maker Vittorio Capovilla for his Rhum Rhum collaboration with Luca Gargano of Velier.

This young rum was distilled in 2023 from pure cane sugar and bottled later that year. 

Belize Rum 2006 Rom de Luxe 17 Year Old

This was distilled in February 2006. It was continentally aged in ex-Bourbon cask #4 for 17 years, before being bottled in October 2023 by Rom de Luxe. 

One of 284 bottles. 

Botucal 2000 Sherry Cask Finish

Destilerías Unidas S.A. (better known as DUSA) was built in 1959 to replace a small local distillery that had been producing on the site at the foot of the Andes mountains for around 15 years. Initially the company was called Licorerías Unidas S.A. (or LUSA), and Canadian distilling giant, Seagram, was the majority shareholder opposite a group of local distillers. Seagram took full control in 1992 but were eventually wound up in 2001, their empire carved up mostly between Pernod-Ricard and Diageo. The companies sold their interests the following year to José R. Ballesteros Melendez, who renamed the company DUSA in the process. The distillery uses both molasses and sugarcane “honey” to produce light and heavy rums, respectively, and has an array of different stills: a five-column continuous still, two double-retort pot stills, a batch kettle and two more computer controlled stainless steel columns.

More commonly known as Diplomatico, this  is a very highly respected rum, which due to licensing arrangements goes by the name Botucal in some regions. This is one of a number of single vintages produced, and has been finished in sherry casks. 

Barbados and Trinidad Rum Zero Nine Spirits 50cl

A blend of Caribbean rum by Zero Nine Spirits for their 'Cyberpunk Series'.

One of 200 bottles. 

Bielle Guadeloupe Brut De Colonne 2023

Bielle is one of three distilleries on the island of Marie Galante in the Guadeloupe archipelago. It was founded at the end of the 19th century as rum production began to take over following the decline in profitability of sugar. The distillery was acquired by Paul Rameaux in 1955, and today is still run by his nephew, Dominique Thiery. Bielle produces around 320,000 litres of agricole rum on its column still every year. It also houses a bespoke Muller pot still, designed by Italian grappa maker Vittorio Capovilla for his Rhum Rhum collaboration with Luca Gargano of Velier.

This Rhum Agricole from Bielle distillery was bottled in 2023 at still strength. 

Bacardi 151 Proof 1 Litre pre-2004 / US Import

A bottle of Bacardi overproof rum, produced in Puerto Rico.

One of the largest family-owned drinks companies in the world, Bacardi can trace their history back to Santiago de Cuba in 1862. Facundo Bacardi Massó was a Spanish Wine Merchant hailing from Catalonia who began distilling rum upon his arrival in Cuba. At the time, rum was quickly and cheaply made and carried a low reputation. After ten years of experimentation, he constructed two different distilleries which would each produce a different style of spirit: Aguardiente, a robust style and Redestillado, a delicate style. The result was his ability to perfectly balance the two styles of spirit and launch the first clear (white) mixable rum in the world. He quickly saw success and began to grow his empire with the purchase of a third distillery. This new facility came along with a colony of fruit bats which became the inspiration for the Bacardi logo and is still in use today. Having moved their headquarters from Cuba to Nassau in opposition to General Batista's government in the 1950s, its Cuban assets were then seized by Fidel Castro in 1959 and its has never returned to its home country. Today the company is Bermuda-based, distilling most of its rum in Puerto Rico, however over the years has also operated facilities in Mexico, Brazil, Canada and Spain. After seven generations of growth, Bacardi’s portfolio of brands became extensive. After a 1993 merger with Martini & Rossi, deals were also struck with Dewar’s and Diageo for brands and distilleries in the Scotch whisky industry. Today, they are one of the most famous names in the history of rum and their wide range of products can be found in over 170 countries across the world.

Bacardi 151 Proof 1 Litre pre-2004 / US Import

A bottle of Bacardi overproof rum, produced in Puerto Rico.

One of the largest family-owned drinks companies in the world, Bacardi can trace their history back to Santiago de Cuba in 1862. Facundo Bacardi Massó was a Spanish Wine Merchant hailing from Catalonia who began distilling rum upon his arrival in Cuba. At the time, rum was quickly and cheaply made and carried a low reputation. After ten years of experimentation, he constructed two different distilleries which would each produce a different style of spirit: Aguardiente, a robust style and Redestillado, a delicate style. The result was his ability to perfectly balance the two styles of spirit and launch the first clear (white) mixable rum in the world. He quickly saw success and began to grow his empire with the purchase of a third distillery. This new facility came along with a colony of fruit bats which became the inspiration for the Bacardi logo and is still in use today. Having moved their headquarters from Cuba to Nassau in opposition to General Batista's government in the 1950s, its Cuban assets were then seized by Fidel Castro in 1959 and its has never returned to its home country. Today the company is Bermuda-based, distilling most of its rum in Puerto Rico, however over the years has also operated facilities in Mexico, Brazil, Canada and Spain. After seven generations of growth, Bacardi’s portfolio of brands became extensive. After a 1993 merger with Martini & Rossi, deals were also struck with Dewar’s and Diageo for brands and distilleries in the Scotch whisky industry. Today, they are one of the most famous names in the history of rum and their wide range of products can be found in over 170 countries across the world.

Barbancourt 15 Year Old Reserve du Domaine

Haiti's national spirit is Clairin, an agricole-style rum spirit. There are are 532 distillers of the product on the island. However, Haiti is also home to the world renowned Barbancourt distillery, where this was produced on their three-column still from pure sugar cane juice.

The Barbancourt distillery on Haiti was established in 1862 by Dupré Barbancourt, a native to the Charente region of France. Aside from his family (who still own the distillery to this day), he also brought with him a sophisticated knowledge of the double distillation technique used to produce some of his homeland’s finest cognac. Dupré had no children, so when he died the distillery passed to his wife’s family, the Gardères, who still own it to this day. It was Jean Gardère who modernised the operation, moving to a new distillery in 1949, right in the centre of the sugarcane fields of the Domaine Barbancourt. Proximity to its natural resources increased production and transformed the company from a local business to a global export brand. Replacing the old pot stills with a three-column continuous still was also a key factor, however the original double distillation regime was retained. Despite losing a third of its stock during the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the distillery thankfully survived, and remains an important player in rum production to this day.

This 15 year old Resereve du Domaine (Estate Reserve in other markets) is matured in white Limousin oak casks from France.

Beenleigh 2015 Velier 8 Year Old Magnum Series #2 1.5 Litre / Alex Webb

Beenleigh is the oldest registered distillery in Australia, established in 1884 as the legal successor to the SS Walrus, a floating moonshine still that was sailed between sugarcane plantations to avoid the local police. The boat’s still was used to open the distillery, which prospered during the 20th century, out-selling its rivals Bundaberg brand during the 1960s and 70s. Subsequent decades were less favourable however, seeing it lose its market share amongst a series of ownership changes. The discontinued Beenleigh brand was resurrected by Stuart Gilbert in 2000 however, and when he sold it to VOK Beverages in 2012, they also bought the old distillery, reuniting the two and ushering in a second age of Beenleigh rum production. The distillery operates a continuous column still installed in 1981, and a copper pot still dating from 1887.

This was distilled in 2015 and bottled by Velier in 2023 as part of the Magnum Series #2. The label features a photograph taken by Alex Webb in Haiti in 1979.

Velier was founded by Casimir Chaix in Genoa in 1947 as a wine and spirits importer and distributor. By the 1980s they were still a small family-company with less than ten staff. This all changed in 1986 when it was purchased by Luca Gargano, a former brand ambassador for Saint James who was at the time still in his twenties. Under his direction, they selected their first single cask whiskies in 1992, and their first rum in 1996. In the decades that followed, Velier have gone on to become one of the most collectible brands in the industry, and Gargano has positioned them as the one of the foremost authorities and bottlers of rum anywhere in the world.

Bacardi Superior Founder's Day 1 Litre 2021

A rare bottle of Bacardi's aged white rum, Superior. This is bottled was produced to mark the annual Founder's Day anniversary.

One of the largest family-owned drinks companies in the world, Bacardi can trace their history back to Santiago de Cuba in 1862. Facundo Bacardi Massó was a Spanish Wine Merchant hailing from Catalonia who began distilling rum upon his arrival in Cuba. At the time, rum was quickly and cheaply made and carried a low reputation. After ten years of experimentation, he constructed two different distilleries which would each produce a different style of spirit: Aguardiente, a robust style and Redestillado, a delicate style. The result was his ability to perfectly balance the two styles of spirit and launch the first clear (white) mixable rum in the world. He quickly saw success and began to grow his empire with the purchase of a third distillery. This new facility came along with a colony of fruit bats which became the inspiration for the Bacardi logo and is still in use today. Having moved their headquarters from Cuba to Nassau in opposition to General Batista's government in the 1950s, its Cuban assets were then seized by Fidel Castro in 1959 and its has never returned to its home country. Today the company is Bermuda-based, distilling most of its rum in Puerto Rico, however over the years has also operated facilities in Mexico, Brazil, Canada and Spain. After seven generations of growth, Bacardi’s portfolio of brands became extensive. After a 1993 merger with Martini & Rossi, deals were also struck with Dewar’s and Diageo for brands and distilleries in the Scotch whisky industry. Today, they are one of the most famous names in the history of rum and their wide range of products can be found in over 170 countries across the world.

Barbancourt 8 Year Old Reserve Speciale Gift Pack

Haiti's national spirit is Clairin, an agricole-style rum spirit. There are are 532 distillers of the product on the island. However, Haiti is also home to the world renowned Barbancourt distillery, where this was produced on their three-column still from pure sugar cane juice.

The Barbancourt distillery on Haiti was established in 1862 by Dupré Barbancourt, a native to the Charente region of France. Aside from his family (who still own the distillery to this day), he also brought with him a sophisticated knowledge of the double distillation technique used to produce some of his homeland’s finest cognac. Dupré had no children, so when he died the distillery passed to his wife’s family, the Gardères, who still own it to this day. It was Jean Gardère who modernised the operation, moving to a new distillery in 1949, right in the centre of the sugarcane fields of the Domaine Barbancourt. Proximity to its natural resources increased production and transformed the company from a local business to a global export brand. Replacing the old pot stills with a three-column continuous still was also a key factor, however the original double distillation regime was retained. Despite losing a third of its stock during the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the distillery thankfully survived, and remains an important player in rum production to this day.

Includes two branded tasting glasses. 

Due to the size of this lot it will include a two bottle shipping fee.

Bacardi 151 Proof 1 Litre pre-2004 / US Import

A bottle of Bacardi overproof rum, produced in Puerto Rico.

One of the largest family-owned drinks companies in the world, Bacardi can trace their history back to Santiago de Cuba in 1862. Facundo Bacardi Massó was a Spanish Wine Merchant hailing from Catalonia who began distilling rum upon his arrival in Cuba. At the time, rum was quickly and cheaply made and carried a low reputation. After ten years of experimentation, he constructed two different distilleries which would each produce a different style of spirit: Aguardiente, a robust style and Redestillado, a delicate style. The result was his ability to perfectly balance the two styles of spirit and launch the first clear (white) mixable rum in the world. He quickly saw success and began to grow his empire with the purchase of a third distillery. This new facility came along with a colony of fruit bats which became the inspiration for the Bacardi logo and is still in use today. Having moved their headquarters from Cuba to Nassau in opposition to General Batista's government in the 1950s, its Cuban assets were then seized by Fidel Castro in 1959 and its has never returned to its home country. Today the company is Bermuda-based, distilling most of its rum in Puerto Rico, however over the years has also operated facilities in Mexico, Brazil, Canada and Spain. After seven generations of growth, Bacardi’s portfolio of brands became extensive. After a 1993 merger with Martini & Rossi, deals were also struck with Dewar’s and Diageo for brands and distilleries in the Scotch whisky industry. Today, they are one of the most famous names in the history of rum and their wide range of products can be found in over 170 countries across the world.

Beenleigh 2015 Velier 5 Year Old

Beenleigh is the oldest registered distillery in Australia, established in 1884 as the legal successor to the SS Walrus, a floating moonshine still that was sailed between sugarcane plantations to avoid the local police. The boat’s still was used to open the distillery, which prospered during the 20th century, out-selling its rivals Bundaberg brand during the 1960s and 70s. Subsequent decades were less favourable however, seeing it lose its market share amongst a series of ownership changes. The discontinued Beenleigh brand was resurrected by Stuart Gilbert in 2000 however, and when he sold it to VOK Beverages in 2012, they also bought the old distillery, reuniting the two and ushering in a second age of Beenleigh rum production. The distillery operates a continuous column still installed in 1981, and a copper pot still dating from 1887.

This was distilled in 2015 and aged in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks for 5 years. One of two releases in 2021, these were the first collaborations with Velier in their famous black bottles.

Velier was founded by Casimir Chaix in Genoa in 1947 as a wine and spirits importer and distributor. By the 1980s they were still a small family-company with less than ten staff. This all changed in 1986 when it was purchased by Luca Gargano, a former brand ambassador for Saint James who was at the time still in his twenties. Under his direction, they selected their first single cask whiskies in 1992, and their first rum in 1996. In the decades that followed, Velier have gone on to become one of the most collectible brands in the industry, and Gargano has positioned them as the one of the foremost authorities and bottlers of rum anywhere in the world.

Brugal Coleccion Visionaria Edicion #01 Limited Edition

Brugal was founded by Andrés Brugal Montaner in 1888, in the town of Puerto Plata on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. When he left his home in Spain, Brugal had initially been located in Cuba where he honed his rum making craft. Today the brand is known around the world as one of the “three B’s” of Dominican rum, alongside Bermudez and Barcelo. The distillery is a modern facility, built in 1986 in San Pedro de Macoris, which ferments local sugarcane to make molasses, and operated three pairs of two-column continuous stills. The company’s ageing and blending facilities remain in its historic home of Puerto Plata. In 2008 the company ceased to be Brugal family-owned for the first time, after the sold a 60% stake to Scottish distillers, the Edrington Group.

Botucal 2008 Sherry Cask Finish

Destilerías Unidas S.A. (better known as DUSA) was built in 1959 to replace a small local distillery that had been producing on the site at the foot of the Andes mountains for around 15 years. Initially the company was called Licorerías Unidas S.A. (or LUSA), and Canadian distilling giant, Seagram, was the majority shareholder opposite a group of local distillers. Seagram took full control in 1992 but were eventually wound up in 2001, their empire carved up mostly between Pernod-Ricard and Diageo. The companies sold their interests the following year to José R. Ballesteros Melendez, who renamed the company DUSA in the process. The distillery uses both molasses and sugarcane “honey” to produce light and heavy rums, respectively, and has an array of different stills: a five-column continuous still, two double-retort pot stills, a batch kettle and two more computer controlled stainless steel columns.

More commonly known as Diplomatico, this  is a very highly respected rum, which due to licensing arrangements goes by the name Botucal in some regions. This is one of a number of single vintages produced, and has been finished in sherry casks. 

Beenleigh 2015 Velier 8 Year Old Magnum Series #2 1.5 Litre / Alex Webb

Beenleigh is the oldest registered distillery in Australia, established in 1884 as the legal successor to the SS Walrus, a floating moonshine still that was sailed between sugarcane plantations to avoid the local police. The boat’s still was used to open the distillery, which prospered during the 20th century, out-selling its rivals Bundaberg brand during the 1960s and 70s. Subsequent decades were less favourable however, seeing it lose its market share amongst a series of ownership changes. The discontinued Beenleigh brand was resurrected by Stuart Gilbert in 2000 however, and when he sold it to VOK Beverages in 2012, they also bought the old distillery, reuniting the two and ushering in a second age of Beenleigh rum production. The distillery operates a continuous column still installed in 1981, and a copper pot still dating from 1887.

This was distilled in 2015 and bottled by Velier in 2023 as part of the Magnum Series #2. The label features a photograph taken by Alex Webb in Haiti in 1979.

Velier was founded by Casimir Chaix in Genoa in 1947 as a wine and spirits importer and distributor. By the 1980s they were still a small family-company with less than ten staff. This all changed in 1986 when it was purchased by Luca Gargano, a former brand ambassador for Saint James who was at the time still in his twenties. Under his direction, they selected their first single cask whiskies in 1992, and their first rum in 1996. In the decades that followed, Velier have gone on to become one of the most collectible brands in the industry, and Gargano has positioned them as the one of the foremost authorities and bottlers of rum anywhere in the world.

Please note: a two-bottle shipping fee will be applied to this lot.

Bielle 2015 Salon du Rhum #120

Bielle is one of three distilleries on the island of Marie Galante in the Guadeloupe archipelago. It was founded at the end of the 19th century as rum production began to take over following the decline in profitability of sugar. The distillery was acquired by Paul Rameaux in 1955, and today is still run by his nephew, Dominique Thiery. Bielle produces around 320,000 litres of agricole rum on its column still every year. It also houses a bespoke Muller pot still, designed by Italian grappa maker Vittorio Capovilla for his Rhum Rhum collaboration with Luca Gargano of Velier.

This was distilled in 2015 and aged in cask #120 for 8 years, before being bottled at cask strength in 2023. 

Barbancourt Reserve Speciale 1990s

Haiti's national spirit is Clairin, an agricole-style rum spirit. There are are 532 distillers of the product on the island. However, Haiti is also home to the world renowned Barbancourt distillery, where this was produced on their three-column still from pure sugar cane juice.

The Barbancourt distillery on Haiti was established in 1862 by Dupré Barbancourt, a native to the Charente region of France. Aside from his family (who still own the distillery to this day), he also brought with him a sophisticated knowledge of the double distillation technique used to produce some of his homeland’s finest cognac. Dupré had no children, so when he died the distillery passed to his wife’s family, the Gardères, who still own it to this day. It was Jean Gardère who modernised the operation, moving to a new distillery in 1949, right in the centre of the sugarcane fields of the Domaine Barbancourt. Proximity to its natural resources increased production and transformed the company from a local business to a global export brand. Replacing the old pot stills with a three-column continuous still was also a key factor, however the original double distillation regime was retained. Despite losing a third of its stock during the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the distillery thankfully survived, and remains an important player in rum production to this day.

Barbancourt 15 Year Old Reserve du Domaine

Haiti's national spirit is Clairin, an agricole-style rum spirit. There are are 532 distillers of the product on the island. However, Haiti is also home to the world renowned Barbancourt distillery, where this was produced on their three-column still from pure sugar cane juice.

The Barbancourt distillery on Haiti was established in 1862 by Dupré Barbancourt, a native to the Charente region of France. Aside from his family (who still own the distillery to this day), he also brought with him a sophisticated knowledge of the double distillation technique used to produce some of his homeland’s finest cognac. Dupré had no children, so when he died the distillery passed to his wife’s family, the Gardères, who still own it to this day. It was Jean Gardère who modernised the operation, moving to a new distillery in 1949, right in the centre of the sugarcane fields of the Domaine Barbancourt. Proximity to its natural resources increased production and transformed the company from a local business to a global export brand. Replacing the old pot stills with a three-column continuous still was also a key factor, however the original double distillation regime was retained. Despite losing a third of its stock during the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the distillery thankfully survived, and remains an important player in rum production to this day.

This 15 year old Resereve du Domaine (Estate Reserve in other markets) is matured in white Limousin oak casks from France.

Bundaberg Rum Overproof Rum 1.125 Litre

The idea for Bundaberg rum was hatched in 1885 by a group of Australian sugar industry heads, looking for a way to profit from the molasses by-products of their factories. The Bundaberg Distilling Company was incorporated in 1888, and the distillery opened the following year. It early history was one of mixed fortunes, but the distillery was successful enough that it was able to overcome two serious fires as well as twice being commandeered by the British Navy during the first and second world wars. Having previously sold the rum overproof by the barrel to agents who marketed it with their own labels, Bundaberg began bottling its own product in 1974, bearing the now famous polar bear emblem adopted the previous decade. The distillery and brand were acquired by Diageo in 2000, who have since invested heavily in it, expanding both the distillery and its line of products. The rum is produced using a molasses wash, distilled through both a continuous column and a pot still.

Bacardi Carta Blanca 1980s

One of the largest family-owned drinks companies in the world, Bacardi can trace their history back to Santiago de Cuba in 1862. Facundo Bacardi Massó was a Spanish Wine Merchant hailing from Catalonia who began distilling rum upon his arrival in Cuba. At the time, rum was quickly and cheaply made and carried a low reputation. After ten years of experimentation, he constructed two different distilleries which would each produce a different style of spirit: Aguardiente, a robust style and Redestillado, a delicate style. The result was his ability to perfectly balance the two styles of spirit and launch the first clear (white) mixable rum in the world. He quickly saw success and began to grow his empire with the purchase of a third distillery. This new facility came along with a colony of fruit bats which became the inspiration for the Bacardi logo and is still in use today. Having moved their headquarters from Cuba to Nassau in opposition to General Batista's government in the 1950s, its Cuban assets were then seized by Fidel Castro in 1959 and its has never returned to its home country. Today the company is Bermuda-based, distilling most of its rum in Puerto Rico, however over the years has also operated facilities in Mexico, Brazil, Canada and Spain. After seven generations of growth, Bacardi’s portfolio of brands became extensive. After a 1993 merger with Martini & Rossi, deals were also struck with Dewar’s and Diageo for brands and distilleries in the Scotch whisky industry. Today, they are one of the most famous names in the history of rum and their wide range of products can be found in over 170 countries across the world.

A bottle of Bacardi white rum from the 1980s.

Beenleigh 2006 Velier 15 Year Old

Beenleigh is the oldest registered distillery in Australia, established in 1884 as the legal successor to the SS Walrus, a floating moonshine still that was sailed between sugarcane plantations to avoid the local police. The boat’s still was used to open the distillery, which prospered during the 20th century, out-selling its rivals Bundaberg brand during the 1960s and 70s. Subsequent decades were less favourable however, seeing it lose its market share amongst a series of ownership changes. The discontinued Beenleigh brand was resurrected by Stuart Gilbert in 2000 however, and when he sold it to VOK Beverages in 2012, they also bought the old distillery, reuniting the two and ushering in a second age of Beenleigh rum production. The distillery operates a continuous column still installed in 1981, and a copper pot still dating from 1887.

This was distilled in 2006 and aged in ex-brandy vats then first-fill ex-Bourbon casks and vatted in the distilleries Kayri pine vats for a total of 15 years.

One of two releases in 2021, these were the first collaborations with Velier in their famous black bottles.

Velier was founded by Casimir Chaix in Genoa in 1947 as a wine and spirits importer and distributor. By the 1980s they were still a small family-company with less than ten staff. This all changed in 1986 when it was purchased by Luca Gargano, a former brand ambassador for Saint James who was at the time still in his twenties. Under his direction, they selected their first single cask whiskies in 1992, and their first rum in 1996. In the decades that followed, Velier have gone on to become one of the most collectible brands in the industry, and Gargano has positioned them as the one of the foremost authorities and bottlers of rum anywhere in the world.

Brand Marke Rum 2016 50cl

This rum was matured in an American oak cask.