January 2026 Auction

This month’s auction brings together an exceptional selection of rare and historic rums, led by a truly remarkable Jamaican release. The Hampden 1959 Van Wees is a once-in-a-generation bottling, distilled in 1959 and drawn from the personal reserve of Cees van Wees. Recovered in 1962 and left untouched for decades, the rum spent 28 years in cask before being transferred to demijohns in 1988, where it remained until its rediscovery by Luca Gargano in 2019. Bottled at full strength in 2024, just 218 bottles exist, making this a profoundly rare expression that bridges generations of rum history.

We are also delighted to present a strong line-up from Silver Seal, one of the most revered names in collectible rum. Highlights include the Enmore 1986 Special Reserve 21 Year Old from the historic wooden Coffey still, the Port Mourant 1975 Special Bottling 37 Year Old from single cask number 2042, and the much-loved WIRD Black Rock 1986 33 Year Old, a powerful example of the iconic Rockley style.

From the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, the January auction features two first releases from their rum series. The Trinidad Distillers 1991 25 Year Old R10.1, Carnival Concerto, and the Foursquare 2002 14 Year Old R6.1, Spice at the Races, offer an excellent opportunity for those wanting to begin or build an SMWS serial collection.

Demerara enthusiasts will also be drawn to the 1980 bottling from Samaroli, sourced from the private stocks of Antonio Bleve. Distilled from a blend of classic Demerara marks, it reflects Samaroli’s renewed focus on rum following Bleve’s stewardship of the brand.

Finally, we are pleased to offer a rare trio of Neisson Cuvée Velier bottlings, released in 2020 and seldom seen together. Distilled on the same day and matured in identical ex-bourbon casks, each was aged in a different warehouse location to explore the effects of temperature and humidity, offering a compelling study in terroir and maturation.