Rums that you have , but will NEVER open !

I now have a bottle of Diplomatico Ambassador... not sure when I'll open it but it will need to certainly be a special day :)

None, enjoy my rums too much to not drink them. If I get some special/rare/expensive bottle I might save it for a special occasion though. ;)

I had 2, but am now down to one :) They are a 28yo Port Morant - VAT Still and a 19yo Enmore - Coffey Still that I bottled for the company I worked for 15 years ago. Ran out of other rums to drink so popped the 19yo, which was really rather good. I guess though, that there is little point keeping a bottle without opening it - who knows, you might get run over by a bus tomorrow.

When I find a "10 Rum" I get a second bottle for display and emergencies. Currently I have a bottle of Millonario XO, Ron Centennario 25, Diplomatico Single Vintage 2000, and Ron Zacapa XO on the shelf. To date there has been no emergencies that would cause these to be opened. Primarily because I have a part bottle of each, which might not last the upcoming winter rum season.

I also have a bottle of Appleton Master Blender Legacy which I May open but I'm not sure I am likely to open my bottle of Appleton Limited Edition 30 yo. Only about 1400 bottled and not sure hiw many are still intact.

Maybe we should organize some kind of gathering where we open our rare rum bottles at the same time and all try each others :)

None. I don't collect things. I use everything I buy.

Andy. Great concept. I would be happy to participate in an International Rum Festival....if it was held in Canada.

Or New Zealand !

Or Ireland! ;-)

Well, it would have to be in the location of who has the best bottles!

To further add to the comment I have about 200 bottles I don't consider opening as they are hard or impossible to replace... that is why I have started to get doubles when I buy, one for tasting and one for collecting.

Wow , that is some collection 200 bottles , very impressive , lets hope you never have a fire !!

@ mamajuana "Well, it would have to be in the location of who has the best bottles!" The States it is then!!!!! please let us know when it's more convenient and your address and we will certainly be there!!!

None. If I am not going to drink it, why buy it. Clement XO, hard to get and running out, I have 2 spares. Buy it, drink it, share it with friends. Otherwise, what is the point.

Sacrilege! Rum is for drinking, not looking at.

Most of the Rum I buy I drink but I also have a collection of several bottles of Lemon Hart Jamaica Rum 73% from the late 50s, 60s and 70s which are hard to come by and it would need a very special occasion to open one of these. I also have some others of that era but they are also more for swank and show off ;) Like mamajuana I buy doubles if affordable, one for display, one for drinking.

Some of the limited edition El Dorado 15 cask rum series are ones I probably will not open.

I have had a few mediocre bottles I probably never should have opened or even purchased but I managed to finish them like the rating system says " in a bind ". After that I have been collecting the bottles even though Weird Al says "it's Tacky" Besides if you collect long enough, someone else will enjoy your rum in your honor. I for one would rather share it !

Nothing wrong with collecting, some people collect cards, some books, etc. The great part about collecting rum is that it is a nice retirement plan that will leave lots to do.

One possibly serious question: should you keep your bottles standing upright or on their sides like wine ?

great question. anyone know. i know i bought a bottle of clement xo and the cork snapped on opening because it was so dry. not sure if laying it on its side would have prevented that?

bottles of spirits should always be kept upright. The higher alcohol content actually may degrade the cork faster if on its side in contact. Every once in a while maybe 6 months or so, you should do what is known as bottle tipping. That's when you tip a bottle so that some liquid makes contact with the cork to ensure the seal and prevent the cork from drying out.

Excellent, thanks. SO just a momentary tip, not a overnight or 10 minutes or anything like that, just a quick wetting? (Probably a stupid question since tipping seems straight forward :))

That's right just a brief tipping. It may take years initially for a natural cork to dry when upright in a bottle to begin with. If a cork does dry out or you purchase a bottle with a dried out cork make sure to remove it with a butter knife in chunks.

I may not have any bottles I will never open, but I do have a few I would like to have around for a long time to share with friends and family for special occasions. But I am guessing once opened oxygen and other impurities can get in there and start changing the flavour. So - how long is too long for a half empty or should I say half full bottle to grace my bar ?

good question, and does maybe moving it to a smaller bottle with less air help...

It really can vary on how long an open bottle of spirits will maintain its flavor. It can change after 6 months or more generally, in some cases less. There are many ways to combat this. The only one that I recommend is using a preservation spray. I use a brand called Private Preserve. It's 100% argon non-toxic gas that forces all the oxygen out of the bottle. You just spray a little in the bottle and then put the top back on. You can usually find at least one brand of preserve spray at most liquor stores. They are only about 5-10 dollars per bottle depending on uses. The one I use gives over 100 uses per can.

i will look dor this. i assume each time hounen and pour, you need to "reapply".

Yeah, that's right, you just spray enough to cover the top of the liquid. The heavier gasses in the spray push out the lighter oxygen creating a seal.

seems i found it but it says for wine, probably doesn't matter, eh? http://www.amazon.ca/Private-Preserve-Wine-Preservation-System/dp/B003F0SDTC

Same concept. If you read the reviews many use it for spirits as well.

This is a great tip , thanks for that. Also I keep the older bottles out of the light to stop degradation. No angels share here !

Rums that I would never open? Being a huge Appleton fan I would never open my rare Appletons (Appleton 50 year 100ml sample bottle, Appleton 250th anniversary, Appleton 30 year, Appleton 20 year Signature Marque, and Appleton Exclusive). I have opened two of the Exclusives and they were wonderful, but as they can only be purchased in Jamaica at the Appleton Distillery I am hesitant to open any more of them. I also have the Master Blenders Legacy which may be their most flavorfull, but I only have three of those left and they are hard to find unless you travel outside the US. I find myself wondering if or when might be tempted to open a rare bottle.

I love Cuban rums as I have family in Cuba and I’m there often. All the different rums give me special memories. And I was lucky enough to have the possibility to get some limited editions. For such limited editions I usually go to a degustation in the factory to know how it tastes but do not open the bottles I bought. So far its Havana Club San Cristobal - Limited edition created in 1999 to commemorate the founding of the royal town of San Cristobal de La Habana 480 years ago in 1519. Havana Club Tributo 2016 - New launched series of a blend of up to 80 years old rums. Limited to 2500 bottles, all numbered and signed. Havana Club Tributo 2017 - Second rum in the Tributo series. I already received the bottle but have not tried it yet. But as soon as I was at the degustation I’ll put it on my rumratings-shelf as well. Collecting rums is not only a great hobby that looks good on your bar but can also be a nice investment. For example, in only 10 years the San Cristobal already went up from 99 Dollar to about 350 Euro.

¡¡¡¡¡¡Tener una botella de ron y no abrirla nunca?, vaya tontería¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ Para mirar comprate un cuadro.

For me it's a bottle of St. Nicholas Abbey 12 yr Barbados Rum. The bottle was engraved and the box is still sealed with the Abbey's seal. I probably won't open it unless I ever travel to Barbados again and can replace it. What a wonderful Rum.

For me it's a bottle of St. Nicholas Abbey 12 yr Barbados Rum. The bottle was engraved and the box is still sealed with the Abbey's seal. I probably won't open it unless I ever travel to Barbados again and can replace it. What a wonderful Rum.

I have a bottle of Marienburg Rum from Surinam. Reason not drinking it: its truly 90%. So unless i'm very keen to enter the afterlife, I leave it very slowly for the angels to take their share.

For reasons different than most peoples, this bottle will never be opened. its a bottle of limited edition Cockspur V.S.O.R. Garfield Sobers Special edition. In 2004, it was the 50th anniversary of Sir Garfield's Test debut, ( that's cricket for our American friends), and Cockspur decided to celebrate the event with this limited edition bottle. Not only is each bottled individually numbered,( no 01746), it was only to be bottled in the year 2004. Sir Garfield personally autographed the bottle in my presence, in a event staged in the Cave Shepherd dept store in Bridgetown, Barbados. After purchasing the bottle, i joined the queue and after a short wait, i was invited into the cordoned off area, shook hands, and sat beside the "greatest cricket all rounder ever", whilst he opened the box and signed my bottle, while we chatted about our holiday. Probably only lasted about 5 minutes, but for me personally it was the highlight of our trip. Undoubtedly the best $25 dollars i have ever spent. graham.

Another one for me: Old New Orleans 20th Anniversary Blend (a.k.a. -- King Creole).

Beukeboom that is a fine bottle of rum and as you know somewhat rare as many barrels were lost to Katrina. For those not familiar with the brand, they offer a great excursion to tour their small distillery if one has a chance visit New Orleans.

Now that im living in Aussie , I brought over a rare Bundaberg 100 year Centenary Edition. Its an 8 yr old rum bottled in 1988. Its housed in a wooden box , in a glass decanter with a glass stopper. Picked it up in NZ for $400 on ebay equivalent... over here in Aussie they go for $1500 /$1800.... so yes , collecting rums can make you some coin ! Also I have a bottle of the Diplomatico single vintage 2000 with again I bought back in New Zealand for $135 and its advertised on a rum website over here at $499 a bottle !

Hey folks. I have a genuine Last Tot NZ Navy bottle unopened still in the original box complete with certificate of authenticity. Will be auctioning on NZ Trade me site unless sold prior. This is very very collectible.

I rather save money, buy a 9 or 10 rum and enjoy it on special occasions than to put it on a shelve and look at... Iam too much on the enjoyment part than the collecting one.

Hi Carl . im afraid Trade Me wont let you auction alcohol on their web site , but i did manage to get a couple of rare ones off of it (contacted owners direct) before they pulled the plug ! Good luck.

Hi Martin, Yes, thanks for that. Not that sure I want to sell. Looks kind of nice in the cabinet and is a wonderful conversation piece. Still a few around over here but must be well down in number from the original 5000. Cheers

Myer’s Legend, Coyopa, Caroni 19 year, old bottle of Appleton 12, Plantation run from Barbados dated 1986, my Limited Foursquare rums and many others. 230+ rums in my collection and growing. Many of them are hard to find or can’t get anymore or changed label or bottle design.

I often tell people I will open my Appleton 50 year old when I turn 50; but now I’m not so sure. I guess I still have 10 years to decide.

Never open my 19 year old Caroni, Myer’s Legend, 1987 Plantation rum from Jamaica or my bottle of Coyopa rum from Barbados. Oh yeah, and my bottle of Limited Plantation rum from Belize only able to be purchased in the Caribbean.

Angostura No. 1 batch 1 It was the last bottle to get in Germany.

I'll have to say that I don't have a bottle that I havent opened and tasted! Got Diplomatico Ambassador and it's empty!😳 Got super rare Caroni Trinity and thats too is empty! 😰

On the emotional part i have to my mount gay eclipse bottle because thats the last bottle my fatherr gave me. But price wise it is el dorado 25 yo.

Well I do not open the rare ones if I’m not having a second one especially if they are one of my 10 rates which are. English Harbour 1981 no problem got 7 bottles. Appleton Joy no problem got 1 extra El Dorado 25 no extra Zafra 30 no extra Clement Cuvee Speciale XO no extra Others that are rare. Malecon Seleccion Esplendida (just one) Malecon Rare Proof (2stk 1996 & 2stk 1998) Diplomatico Single Vintage 2000 (just one) Depaz Grande Reserve old bottle (got 3) ReimonenQ 1999 (just one)

I am into drinking rather than collecting. However, I came across a half bottle that I wished that I had never opened for two reasons. First, it is indeed considered to be collectible. Second, the wannabe rum inside is so disgusting that it is the second worst rum that I have rated. It is Old New Orleans 1718 Tricentennial Blend to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the city of New Orleans. I specifically state in my review to not open it. I don't see how anyone could enjoy drinking this stuff. For rums that are very hard for me to find, I do savor them over several months. Luckily, my top rated rum is readily available where I live.

If I do not want to pass the bottle to eg. my son then I have no intension to leave any bottle unopened. No reason for it. If I would want to have some 'legacy' rum then I would invest into small cask, fill it and leave it, tasting each year how it matures. The spirits with the high concentration of alcohol are much more preservative then the wines so it is not like your rum will mature in the sealed glass bottle over time as some guy here think (sorry no angel shares in properly closed glass bottle). Also degradation due to opening is very very limited - gases in air has molar volumes mostly above 20l while ethanol has around 60ml so even if the reaction would be 100% then you would need to open such hundreds of times (thats not going to happen right ;)). Of course with lower volume of rum in bottle the air to rum ratio raises but as long as you store it safe you should be fine. There would be some changes in flavor but I doubt that majority of people will taste the difference with older rums being less susceptible because they are already matured...

I have a bottle of Appleton's Blender's Select that I purchased, when visiting the distillery. $250US at the time. When arriving back at our hotel, a guy offered me $500 for it, as he wasn't able to get there before his trip was up. It's resided in my cabinet, in it's wooden cradle since 2013. I have no children to bequeath it to, and personally not a huge Appleton's fan. So, it will sit and rest for who knows when. Jokingly thought about (as they slowly disappear from the market) what it may be worth one day. Not as any sort of investment, just knowing I have one. I've thought, one day, perhaps on my 75th or something (24yrs to go) perhaps I'll line up everything I have, start at one end and work my way down the line, 1 sip at a time. Of course, I'll be looking for others to join & appreciate it all at that time.

I was never much of a collector of anything except for music, but I started my rum collection a year ago with mainly sweetened rums. I soon found out that rums with 20 gpl of added sugar or more will change drastically in taste as more air is allowed into the bottle. By the time four months is up, one might as well pour the rest of these sweet ones down the drain. I now focus mainly on dry and semi-dry rums for drinking purposes, since these seem to last for seven months or more. These rums are also much better for one's health. I now always record the date that each bottle was opened in my spreadsheet. Since the amount of added sugar varies from year to year for each of the historically sweet rums, I would advise investors and collectors to notate the date and amount of added sugar when first purchased. When the time comes to sell it or open it to begin drinking it, you will have it's original information, probably taped to the bottom of the bottle with freezer tape However, if I was ever to get my hands on a bottle of very collectible rum and be willing to cough up the cash, I would also make these suggested notes onto the bottom of the bottle as well as in my spreadsheet. Then I would hide it way out of my sight!

Buy what you like, drink what you buy.

Just picked up a bottle.... Ron Valdespino (Jerez), Fine Old Cuban Rum - 45% On the back label it states.... "A unique rum, distilled in Cuba before 1940, and shipped in oak barrels to Spain the following year. It has lain untouched ever since in the cool bodegas of A.R. Valdespino in Jerez. This pre-Fidel Castro rum, of which only a small amount remains, reveals a sweet old sherry-like nose and hits of cedar, the perfect partner with a mature Havana cigar." There is some "Legend of Cuban Rum" that they bottled from about 1962, so this one is a fair bit older. I think it was been bottled around about 1997/8

Wow.. I wouldn't be opening that either , must of cost an arm and a leg ?

it was free, but yes, I suspect it would cost a fair bit. Not sure how many other bottles are knocking about. It's in a lovely old bottle with a big punt and a nice wax "capsule". My old boss gave it to me as he knows I love rum and he was clearing things out as he was moving house. Many moons ago we both worked for a company that took some of this rum (as well as sherries) and this bottle was left over from then. It was before rum became so popular.