Invest in Fine Rum — The Next Generation of Luxury Assets
Whisky is plateauing. Rum is rising. Discover a smarter, more affordable alternative in the world of spirits investment.
As traditional markets cool and whisky shows signs of stagnation, premium aged rum is gaining attention as a high-potential asset class. With lower entry costs and uncorrelated performance to traditional financial markets, rum offers a refined, tangible investment — just as the world begins to notice.
ANEJO RUM
This is a great time to invest in fine Rum
Conventional assets such as bonds and stocks, real estate, precious metals, and even arts and antiques have long been considered reliable investment vehicles. But in the past two decades, alternative asset classes have gained prominence too.
Whisky is a notable example. It has evolved into a legitimate alternative asset class with unique appeal, given its performance is uncorrelated with traditional financial markets.
Despite its attractiveness, returns in the whisky market are displaying signs of weakening. According to the Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index, whisky emerged as one of last year’s weakest luxury investment performers, experiencing a modest growth of just 3%.
Furthermore, today, investing in the finest whiskies may still offer returns, but it comes with a considerable entry cost, potentially limiting long-term profit potential. The essence of sound investment often lies in choices with lower initial expenses, as they can pave the way for more favourable returns over time after all.
Two Types of rum
Light Rum
Light rum, often clear in appearance, is typically aged for a shorter period or sometimes not at all. It’s known for its subtle, clean flavour and is commonly used in cocktails. The ageing process—if done—is usually in stainless steel tanks or neutral oak barrels to preserve its light color and mild profile. Though less complex than dark rum, it still varies based on the sugarcane and techniques used by the distiller.
Light rum is a go-to for mojitos, daiquiris, and mixers.
Dark Rum
Dark rum is aged longer, often in charred oak barrels, which gives it its deep color and richer, bolder flavor profile. The ageing process imparts notes of caramel, spice, vanilla, and molasses. Some producers may add coloring or sweeteners to deepen its tone and taste, but the complexity generally comes from the barrel. Dark rum is ideal for sipping neat or in spirit-forward cocktails. Countries with long-standing traditions, like Jamaica or Barbados, often produce premium aged dark rums.
Why are barrels used for rum ageing
Barrels have been used to age spirits for quite some time, and it has become central to the flavours of a number of spirits, including whisky and rum, not to mention a large percentage of wine. The practice originated from when barrels were used to transport spirits on ships. People found that spirits not only took on the characteristics and colour of the barrels, but that the spirits were more rounded, with fewer harsh elements, after some time in oak, one of the type of barrels used to age rum.
Over the years the practice became more established, with distillers using various types of barrels to age rum and other spirits, including white oak barrels, either from Europe or the US. Often these include barrels that have been used to age something else. In all of these cases, the specifics of the barrel influences the final spirit.
The types of flavours that oak imparts to a spirit – vanilla, sweetness, spice and more – all pair beautifully with rum’s intrinsic characteristics.
Different techniques to age rum
There are probably as many approaches to ageing rum as there are rum producers, with so many variables that affect the flavour of the finished spirit.
The type of oak, and what it held before, is the most obvious factor here. American oak famously contributes vanilla, popcorn and gentle toffee notes, while European oak is better known for its nutty influence. And if a barrel previously held another liquid – bourbon or sherry, most commonly – then that has an influence on the spirit too.
But there are various other variables to consider when it comes to oak ageing. A significant factor is how temperature affects rum ageing, for example. While some spirits such as scotch are aged in barrels in temperate climates for extended periods of time, rum is almost always aged in tropical climates, as this is where sugarcane is grown.
The higher temperatures, and sometimes the variation between temperatures on a given day, causes the interaction between the oak and the rum to be significantly higher. This means that to achieve the same amount of influence from the barrels, far less time is required.
One of the most interesting approaches to barrel ageing comes from Spain, where sherries and brandies go through what is known as the solera system.
So, What Is Barrel Ownership?
Put simply, barrel ownership means buying and owning an entire barrel of ageing spirit — usually rum or whisky — that matures over several years before you decide what to do with it.
You’re not just buying alcohol. You’re buying:
- A tangible asset stored securely in a climate-stable vault
- A product that gets better with time (if stored right)
- A potential source of profit or bespoke bottles for gifting, resale, or sipping
- Something exempt from Capital Gains Tax in the UK (yes, really)
This isn’t about crypto-level risk or rum you never actually see. It’s about owning something real, physical, and full of potential — both in taste and value.
Why Rum?
Rum is having a serious moment. While whisky markets are starting to look overcrowded and overvalued, aged rum is rising fast as a more affordable and arguably more exciting alternative.
Lower entry cost than whisky
8–15% historical returns per annum (past performance, not promises)
Untapped market potential — fewer players, more room to grow
It’s just, well… cooler. And when it’s aged in a WWII-era bombproof vault (like ours), it also comes with bragging rights.
General Question
Have a question about our rum or investment opportunities?
We’re here to help—reach out and get the answers you need.
As mentioned above, various elements affect the flavour of the eventual rum, but oak ageing is one of the main contributing factors. Further to this, one of the main factors when it comes to barrel ageing is the climate where a spirit is aged.
As a result, rum, which is usually aged in countries where sugarcane is grown, which tend to be warm, tropical places, experiences more influence from oak barrels than spirits grown in more temperate climates.
Rum, therefore, is almost always aged for less time than some other spirits that are aged in more temperate climates, because the oak influence is more intense in the warm countries where it is produced.
We help our clients source quality spirits and rare barrels. We provide an end-to-end service that can help you buy, store, bottle or sell barrels of premium spirit.
The Complete Guide to Barrel Investment teaches you about investing in spirits.
We’ll give you information about the investment process and potential returns. We’ll help you answer the question: ‘Is investing in spirits the right strategy for me?’
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