Close Menu
News

Wray & Nephew President’s Reserve heads to auction

Whisky Auctioneer is selling a rare bottle of the J. Wray & Nephew President’s Reserve rum, which contains liquid from 1906 and is one of only 12 bottles created.

J. Wray & Nephew President’s Reserve rum contains liquid from 1906

Described as one of the world’s rarest rums, the J. Wray & Nephew President’s Reserve honours US president Ronald Reagan’s first and only visit to Jamaica in April 1982.

It is comprised of rum laid down in 1906 from the Mona Estate in Jamaica, with the bottle label bearing the seal of the US president.

According to Perth-based Whisky Auctioneer, it is believed that two bottles were gifted to Reagan with further bottles given to dignitaries and industry professionals in attendance during the visit.

The bottle, the fourth of 12 bottles created, is on sale in Whisky Auctioneer’s inaugural Rum Auction, which went live last Friday (10 May).

Jamaican distiller J. Wray & Nephew is also recognised for producing one of the world’s most expensive rums, a 17-year-old expression priced in the region of £40,000 (US$52,000) and used to create the first Mai Tai cocktail in the 1940s.

Iain McClune, director at Whisky Auctioneer, said: “The President’s Reserve is a very special bottle and the undoubted highlight of our inaugural rum auction. An exceptional rarity, which we will likely never see again on the open market.

“The historical significance of the bottling should not be overlooked, this is a stunning blend of aged rum that includes liquid dating back to 1906. A more than fitting celebration of president Reagan’s momentous first and only visit to Jamaica.

“In recent years we have seen a significant rise in the number of rums in our regular monthly whisky and spirits auctions. With such a growth in demand we felt that it was about time we gave this incredible spirit the spotlight it deserves by holding a dedicated rum auction.”

Other highlights of the sale include premium releases from Appleton Estate, 20th-century bottlings and a cask of rum from closed Trinidad and Tobago distillery Caroni.

The Rum Auction will close on 20 May. The highest bid for the J. Wray & Nephew President’s Reserve at the time of writing was £12,500 (US$16,279).

It looks like you're in Asia, would you like to be redirected to the Drinks Business Asia edition?

Yes, take me to the Asia edition No