Search beyond the front page of our monthly spirits auction, beyond the Macallans and you begin to discover all the subcultures in the old and rare spirits market. Here are a few personal highlights.
Rum
As the inaugural virtual Rum Show came to a close our auction was just about to go live and there was renewed interest in affordable old and rare rums. Here are just three:
There was the classic Lemon Hart Golden Jamaica rum bottled in the 1950-1060s by United Rum Merchants which went for £270.
A Lamb’s Navy Rum bottled for the US market in the 1980s, also from United Rum Merchants it’s a blend of rums from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and sold for £65.
George Morton OVD Old Vatted Demerara Rum was bottled in Scotland at a healthy 57.1% ABV. This very collectible brand of Guyana rum sold for £100.
Liqueurs
Every auction is a treasure trove of classic liqueurs if you look hard enough. Highlights this month were a glorious Chartreuse from the 1940s at £950, a cocktail-ready Campari from the 1980s at £180 and a summery Pimm’s No. 3 Cup bottled in the 1960-1970s which took £170. However if you’re building a pretty back bar on a budget then you might have been the lucky winner of the wacky bottles of Mollfulleda Licor Crema de Naranja Bottled 1950s and Cocal Banana Liqueur from the 1960s.
Compass Box
Compass Box was founded in 2000 by John Glaser to create a wide range of blended whiskies from light and delicate to rich and smoky. The brand quickly developed a cult following and gradually, as word spread, demand began to outstrip supply. Occasionally early limited editions turn up at auction like this pristine Morpheus vatted malt Scotch whisky with its original box which sold for £1650. I know this one well, I named it after the Greek god of dreams. It was created by John Glaser and me in August 2007 for Milroy’s of Soho.
Complete August 2021 auction results
