Jamaican Rum Is the New Liquor of Choice for High-End Collectors
The funky, flavor-forward spirit has joined the leagues of bourbon and whisky with a robust resell market for its most-aged expressions.
Appleton’s new 17 Year Old Legend ($500) is a faithful recreation of the legendary Wray & Nephew’s 17 Year Old Rum.
Source: Appleton Estate
Aged spirits come at quite a premium these days. High-end cognac and Scotch can command more than four figures per bottle, and American whiskey isn’t far behind. Michter’s recently released a blend of bourbon and rye originally priced at $6,000, and it's already selling for three times that. And until now, fans of top-shelf rum have largely been spared this secondary market gouging.
If you’re into the Jamaican cane spirit, brace yourself for a similar fate. The collectors are coming, and sticker shock inevitably awaits.