Whether producers and consumers expect it or not, a bottle of rum can acquire a higher value over the years … Sometimes going up to tens of thousands of euros!

But how does one estimate the value of a bottle of rum?

This is a very delicate question to which there is no simple and unique answer. Several factors are to be taken into consideration, as much related to the intrinsic qualities of rum as to external circumstances.

Assessing the beverage itself

One of the most important factors is the chronological age of the beverage itself, which is often a guarantee of quality. In general, the older the rum, the more valuable it becomes. Attention must be paid to the years of aging in barrels before the rum has been bottled, but also to the year in which it was bottled.

In addition to its age, the quality of the rum can also be determined by the raw materials used. This is a second factor to consider. Some rums are made with carefully selected varieties of sugar cane, which gives them an exceptional taste.

Analyze the rum bottle

The third important feature is the bottle in which the rum is contained. Some bottles are crafted as collectibles, even using materials as noble as gold. Others unwittingly become more important, either as the result of a logo change or because a specific type of bottle has stopped being produced.

Since scarcity generally plays a key role in estimating the value of an object, the number of copies available on the market is the fourth factor to consider. Some brands produce collector editions in just a few hundred copies. Other bottles may become rare later, for example following the closure of a specific rum distillery.

Consider the trends of rum

Finally, the value of a bottle is also related to the influence of fashion and trends. For some reasons, some types of rum enjoy a stronger craze than others. But this one can quickly turn to other types, based on trends and historical events.

These five characteristics are the main factors to consider when estimating the value of a rum bottle, but others may be added depending on the rum and its history.

To conclude, estimating the value of a rum is a delicate calculation, even when done by experts. When sold at auctions, some rums can therefore reach prices much higher than their actual values.

If you discover an old bottle of rum in your cellar, you might want to estimate its value!