rum

R.A.S.C. 1954 – Rum from Another Time 

There are rare rums – and then there are bottlings where the story behind the liquid is almost even more fascinating than the rum itself. The two R.A.S.C. Jamaica Rum 1954 releases from Velier undoubtedly belong to the second category. Only 166 bottles were produced from the two releases in total. But what makes them truly special is their origin: the rum comes from historic British military stocks and was already filled into the typical stoneware flagons back in 1954. 

When Yoshiharu Takeuchi founded Nine Leaves in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture, in 2013, his approach to rum was anything but conventional. With a background outside the traditional spirits industry and a fascination for Japanese whisky, Takeuchi sought advice and practical experience from Ichiro Akuto, founder of Chichibu Distillery.

In recent years, the market for rare spirits — especially collectible Whisky and Rum bottlings — has seen extraordinary price increases. Alongside passionate enthusiasts and long-time collectors, a growing number of investors entered the market, turning certain bottles into highly traded assets rather than objects of enjoyment.

This article is part of our ongoing series exploring the rich history of Demerara rum, following our deep dive into Port Mourant Distillery.

Introduction

Have you ever heard of ‘Black Tot Day’?
On July 31, 1970, the British Royal Navy ended a tradition that had been part of daily life for over 300 years—the issuing of a daily rum ration to its sailors. This day, forever known as Black Tot Day, marked the end of an era, where rum played a vital role in life at sea. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the fascinating history of this tradition, why it came to an end, and why Black Tot Day remains a special date for rum enthusiasts around the world.

Following the launch of our Demerara series with the post here, where we introduced the legendary rums of this iconic region, we are excited to continue the journey with another extraordinary bottle: the Lemon Hart 151 Proof Demerara Rum.

Intro

Since we introduced the Agricoles from Martinique on our blog a few weeks ago, we now want to spotlight one of the most iconic and rare bottles from Martinique:
The first aged Vintage Rhum from Jacques Bally – distilled back in 1924! This bottle truly contains liquid history, not only because of its nearly century-long age but even more because there are just a handful of other Vintage Rhums from Martinique from this era – like some other J.Bally and St. James bottles.

The Nelson ship decanter, named after Admiral Lord Nelson, the iconic British naval officer of the 18th century, has its roots in the early sailing ships of the navy. This particular decanter shape was designed to ensure stability at sea, with a wide base that allowed it to stand securely on the table even in stormy weather.

All eyes on … 4 of the rarest and surely most extraordinarily Rums in terms of history and even more – in quality!

Surely we are talking about those 4 legendary 1964 Port Morant bottlings – distilled in the Double Wooden Pot Still at Uitvlugt Distillery. That famouse wooden Still was removed at the closed Port Morant Distillery  and rebuild at Uitvlugt Distillery in the middle oft he last century. Bottled by the legendary independent bottler William Cadenhead, founded back in the year 1842.

Nestled in the southern Caribbean, Trinidad is a vibrant island with a history as rich and diverse as its culture. From the indigenous peoples who first inhabited its shores to the colonial powers that shaped its destiny, Trinidad's story is one of resilience, innovation, and the blending of cultures.