Only 5,700 bottles exist of this 20-year-old Appleton, selected by Velier for its acclaimed Hearts Collection – the fruitiest of the entire series.

Expert Description

Appleton Estate Hearts Collection 2002 is a Jamaican Single Cask Rum distilled from molasses on a pot still, matured for 20 years and bottled at 63%.

The rum was distilled in 2002 at Appleton Estate and subsequently selected and bottled without reduction by the Italian bottler Velier as part of the acclaimed Hearts Collection. With its cask strength of 63% and a limited run of 5,700 bottles, this 2002 vintage is considered the fruitiest release in the entire Hearts series, with a character that showcases Appleton Estate's classic Jamaican funk in a mature, rounded form.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla, caramel, oak and bitter orange, complemented by toasted tones, orange blossom, molasses and coffee.

Palate

Buttery and creamy attack with roasted oak, caramelised sweetness and pastry tones sliding into creamy caramel, spiced vanilla and allspice, while pineapple, banana, mango and bitter orange lend fruity depth, finished with baked apples and cherries.

Finish

Fruity and warm with roasted oak and a light ester-rich funk that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Appleton Estate Hearts Collection 2002
Distillery: Appleton Estate
Bottler: Velier
Region/Country: Jamaica
Type: Single Cask Rum
Age: 20 Years
ABV: 63%
Size: 70 CL
Cask strength: Yes
Distillation method: Pot still
Distilled: 2002
Number of bottles: 5,700
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat in a snifter glass

Distillery: Appleton Estate
Bottler: Velier

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Funky · Full-bodied · Spicy · Rounded

Investment Potential

Medium. Velier-bottled Appleton Estate Hearts Collection releases are among the most sought-after Jamaican single cask rums on the market, and the limited run of 5,700 bottles supports collector interest.

Did You Know?

This 2002 vintage is regarded by connoisseurs as the fruitiest release in Velier's entire Appleton Estate Hearts Collection, with notes of cherry, dried apricot and orange peel that set it apart from the other vintages in the series.

See our full range of Appleton Estate Hearts Collection

A step above Signature Blend sits Appleton Estate's Rare Casks range, where 12 years of ageing leave room for a more complex, concentrated Jamaican style.

Expert Description

Appleton Estate Rare Casks 12 Year is a Jamaica Rum blending aged rum from rare casks, bottled at 43%.

The rum is produced at Appleton Estate in the Nassau Valley of Jamaica, where the distillery has made rum since 1749. The Rare Casks range sits above the distillery's accessible Signature Blend and is built on rum aged for 12 years, selected from rarer cask types than those used in the more common releases. The longer ageing and special casks give the rum a deeper, more concentrated Jamaican character, while retaining an approachability that suits it both for sipping neat and in cocktails.

The result is a full-bodied, complex rum, where spice and dried fruit meet a long, warm finish of oak and caramel.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spice, dried fruit and toasted oak.

Palate

Full-bodied and complex with caramel, vanilla and a hint of orange.

Finish

Long and warm with lingering spice.

Specifications

Name: Appleton Estate Rare Casks 12 Year
Distillery: Appleton Estate
Region/Country: Jamaica
Type: Jamaica Rum
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
EAN No.: 5024576191103
Serving Suggestion: Neat at room temperature or over ice

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Spiced · Complex · Oak-forward · Caramel-forward

Did You Know?

The Rare Casks name refers to the rum being selected from rarer cask types than those used in Appleton's more accessible releases like Signature Blend.

See our full range of Appleton Estate

Appleton Estate Signature Blend is the gateway to one of Jamaica's most respected rum names, an accessible bottle built on generations of experience from the Nassau Valley.

Expert Description

Appleton Estate Signature Blend is a Jamaica Rum blending several aged rums, bottled at 40%.

The rum is produced at Appleton Estate in the Nassau Valley of Jamaica, where the distillery has been making rum since 1749 and is today one of the world's oldest continuously operating rum distilleries. Signature Blend brings together several years of aged rum from the distillery into a blend designed to be accessible and versatile, while retaining Appleton's characteristic Jamaican style. The bottle serves as the distillery's entry point before moving on to the more aged releases in the range.

The result is a smooth, complex rum, where spice and oak meet a light, dry finish with notes of dried orange.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spice, oak and dried orange peel.

Palate

Smooth and complex with vanilla, spice and light fruit.

Finish

Medium length and dry with lingering oak.

Specifications

Name: Appleton Estate Signature Blend
Distillery: Appleton Estate
Region/Country: Jamaica
Type: Jamaica Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN No.: 5024576189100
Serving Suggestion: Neat, over ice or in a classic rum cocktail

Flavour Profile

Smooth · Spiced · Oak-forward · Complex · Approachable

Did You Know?

Appleton Estate has distilled rum on the same site in the Nassau Valley since 1749, making it one of the oldest continuously operating rum distilleries in the world.

See our full range of Appleton Estate

In recent years Appleton has renamed its clear rum to Kingston 62 in certain markets, but this Old Version keeps the original name and recipe that many collectors still seek out.

Expert Description

Appleton White Old Version is a Jamaica Rum, bottled at 40%.

The rum is produced at Appleton Estate in the Nassau Valley of Jamaica, where the distillery has made rum since 1749. Appleton White was for many years the house's clear, unfiltered rum, but has since been rebranded to Kingston 62 in several markets with no changes to the recipe itself. This Old Version is bottled in the original 76 cl bottle under the classic Appleton White name, making it a piece of the brand's history for those who know the difference.

The result is a light, clean rum, where sugarcane and citrus meet a fresh, dry finish.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh sugarcane, citrus and a touch of tropical fruit.

Palate

Clean and light with a hint of spice.

Finish

Short and dry with lingering sugarcane.

Specifications

Name: Appleton White Old Version
Distillery: Appleton Estate
Region/Country: Jamaica
Type: Jamaica Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 76 CL
Serving Suggestion: Over ice or in cocktails

Flavour Profile

Light · Clean · Fresh · Citrus-forward · Classic

Did You Know?

Appleton White was rebranded to Kingston 62 in several markets with no changes to the rum itself, making Old Version bottles like this one a kind of time capsule for enthusiasts who recognise the original name.

See our full range of Appleton Estate

The year 1863 marks the start of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's naval history, and this rum uses it as the starting point for a blend of selected Caribbean distillates.

Expert Description

Austrian Empire Navy Reserva 1863 is a Rum-based Spirit Drink matured in oak casks, bottled at 40%.

The rum is a blend of selected Caribbean rums, carefully matured in oak casks to achieve depth and complexity. The name and the year 1863 reference the Austro-Hungarian Empire's naval history, and the bottle is designed with this maritime heritage as its theme. The dark mahogany colour and the intense, complex aroma reflect the careful cask maturation behind the blend.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fine notes of vanilla, toffee and dark chocolate, accompanied by subtle spices as well as fruity aromas of tropical fruit, honey and spiced oak.

Palate

Soft and full-bodied with honey, caramel, roasted nuts and a hint of oak, where the initial toffee impressions are followed by darker fruit echoes such as raisin and stewed fig.

Finish

Long-lasting, slightly spicy with sweet and smoky tones.

Specifications

Name: Austrian Empire Navy Reserva 1863
Type: Rum-based Spirit Drink
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 742832644655
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat or on the rocks

Bottler: Albert Michler Distillery

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Sweet · Spicy · Nutty · Smoky

Did You Know?

Although Austria-Hungary had no colonies in the Caribbean, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had a significant navy in the 19th century, and this rum range was created as a tribute to the maritime trading history of that era.

See our full range of Rum

Up to 18 years in oak casks through the Dominican solera method gives this expression from the Austrian Empire range a deeper, more complex character than its younger sibling.

Expert Description

Austrian Empire Solera 18 Years Blended Navy is a Rum-based Spirit Drink matured in a solera system, bottled at 40%.

The rum is produced in the Dominican Republic and matured for up to 18 years in oak casks using the traditional solera method, where younger and older vintages are continuously blended through a system of stacked casks. The long maturation process gives the rum an amber-red colour and an aroma where spiced wood and matured distillates achieve perfect balance.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fruity with notes of oak, well balanced between wood and matured distillates.

Palate

Fruit, spices, dark chocolate and caramel, with a bitter edge of dried fruit and lightly tangy herbal notes.

Finish

Long-lasting and smooth with lingering aged oak tones.

Specifications

Name: Austrian Empire Solera 18 Years Blended Navy
Region/Country: Dominican Republic
Type: Rum-based Spirit Drink
Age: 18 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks, solera system
EAN no.: 742832644648
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat in a snifter glass

Bottler: Albert Michler Distillery

Flavour Profile

Spicy · Fruity · Nutty · Full-bodied · Smooth

Did You Know?

The solera method ensures that every bottle contains traces of rum older than the stated 18 years, because the system of stacked casks is never fully emptied.

See our full range of Rum

A copper column from 1922 still stands distilling at the Las Cabras distillery in Panama – the same still, the same method, year after year.

Expert Description

Autentico Nativo Aged Special Reserve is a 15-Year-Old Panama Rum distilled at the Las Cabras distillery and bottled at 40%.

The rum is continuously distilled on a copper column dating back over 100 years to 1922, then matured for 15 years in charred American white oak casks previously used for bourbon. After maturation the rum is filtered through cellulose membranes and cold filtered before bottling. Behind the bottle stands master blender Don Pancho Fernandez, who combines the traditional Cuban approach to maturation and blending with Panamanian craftsmanship.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Pleasant and rounded aroma with burnt caramel, coffee and a light vanilla tone.

Palate

Dark, almost burnt sugar flavour meets coffee, vanilla, wood and a touch of chocolate.

Finish

Smooth and long finish, fading out without any sharpness.

Specifications

Name: Autentico Nativo Aged Special Reserve
Distillery: Las Cabras
Region/Country: Panama
Type: Rum
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Charred American white oak, ex-bourbon
Distillation method: Continuous column still
EAN no.: 7451105850626
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat at room temperature or with a single ice cube

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Caramel · Coffee · Vanilla · Wood

Did You Know?

The copper column that Autentico Nativo still uses today was built all the way back in 1922 – making it one of the oldest stills still in active use in Panama's rum industry.

See our full range of Autentico Nativo

Volcanic soil in the dry belt of the Azuero peninsula gives Panama's sugarcane a mineral weight that master blender Don Pancho Fernandez has spent a lifetime understanding.

Expert Description

Autentico Nativo Over Proof 108 is a Panama Rum distilled at the Las Cabras distillery and bottled at 54%.

The rum is a blend of 8-year-old rums, distilled on copper column stills and matured in ex-bourbon casks, before being flavoured with locally grown chocolate. Behind the bottle stand Don Pancho Fernandez and Eduardo Perez, two of Panama's most experienced master blenders, who run the Las Cabras distillery west of Panama City – originally a sugar mill from 1919, converted into a rum distillery in the 1990s.

The 108 in the name refers to the US proof scale and marks this as the company's powerful overproof release, where the strength is deliberately turned up to highlight the rum's body and spice.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Caramel, vanilla and dark dried figs meet a spiced warmth from the high strength.

Palate

Complex and full-bodied with caramel, molasses, charred oak, tobacco and a hint of cinnamon.

Finish

Powerful and long finish, where the warmth from the strength lingers well after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Autentico Nativo Over Proof 108
Distillery: Las Cabras
Region/Country: Panama
Type: Rum
Age: 8 Years
ABV: 54%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Column still
EAN no.: 7451105850893
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat in a small glass or as the base of a powerful cocktail

Flavour Profile

Powerful · Caramel · Spiced · Tobacco · Overproof

Did You Know?

The Las Cabras distillery began life in 1919 as an ordinary sugar mill, long before anyone thought of it as a rum destination – it was only with Don Pancho Fernandez's takeover that the site was converted into the distillery it is today.

See our full range of Autentico Nativo

Behind the well-known bat also hides a serious, cask-aged side of Bacardi. Reserva Ocho is the house's proof that Puerto Rico can do more than mojitos.

Expert description

Bacardi 8 Year Rare Gold Reserva Ocho is a Rum from Puerto Rico, matured 8 to 12 years in American oak casks and finished for three months in Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 40%.

Reserva Ocho is blended from rums matured between 8 and 12 years, already giving it a deeper character than the house's light Carta Blanca style. The final finishing period in Oloroso sherry casks adds a layer of raisin-like sweetness and a velvety texture, bringing Bacardi into the more premium end of the rum segment.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla and dried fruit, enhanced by the sherry's influence with notes of walnut, fig and orange marmalade.

Palate

Sweet caramel and ripe berries up front, followed by dark chocolate, roasted nuts and dried fruit, supported by buttery oak.

Finish

Velvety with raisin-like sweetness from the sherry casks that lingers long.

Bottler: Bacardi
Region/Country: Puerto Rico
Type: Rum
Age: 8 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak casks, finished in Oloroso sherry casks
EAN no.: 7610113001516
Serving suggestion: Neat or in an Old Fashioned

Flavour profile

Sherry · Nutty · Sweet · Full-bodied

Did you know?

The name Ocho, Spanish for eight, refers to the minimum 8 years of maturation behind the blend, but the rums in the blend can be up to 12 years old before receiving their final trip through sherry casks.

See our full range of Bacardi

There is hardly a mojito or daiquiri in the world that hasn't at some point been mixed with the white bottle bearing the bat. Carta Blanca is the very definition of white rum.

Expert description

Bacardi Carta Blanca is a Rum from Puerto Rico, charcoal filtered for colour and bottled at 37.5%.

Bacardi was founded in 1862 in Cuba, but is today produced primarily in Puerto Rico. Carta Blanca is the house's original, light rum style, a white rum filtered through charcoal to remove colour and the heaviest flavour compounds, resulting in a clean, dry and light profile designed to be versatile rather than complex. It is this style that has made Bacardi the world's best-selling rum brand and a fixture in countless cocktails.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light and clean, with faint notes of vanilla, almond and a hint of tropical fruit.

Palate

Dry and light, with a soft sweetness and a subtle taste of sugarcane.

Finish

Short and clean, without heavy or dominant notes.

Bottler: Bacardi
Region/Country: Puerto Rico
Type: Rum
ABV: 37.5%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5010677013147
Natural colour: No
Serving suggestion: In a mojito, daiquiri or Cuba Libre

Flavour profile

Light · Dry · Clean · Mixable

Did you know?

Bacardi Carta Blanca is so widespread in cocktail culture that it is often simply referred to as "white rum" on cocktail menus worldwide, without the brand being named explicitly.

See our full range of Bacardi

There is a Bacardi most people know from the white label, and then there is Carta Negra, the dark expression that is not afraid to show teeth.

Expert description

Bacardi Carta Negra is a Rum from Puerto Rico, matured for 4 years in charred oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The rum is charcoal filtered for smoothness, yet still retains a pronounced dark character thanks to maturation in charred oak casks. Unlike most of Bacardi's lighter classics, Carta Negra is built to carry weight and depth, with notes leaning towards molasses, coal and dark chocolate rather than the light, fruity style associated with the house's Carta Blanca and Carta Oro.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark molasses, toasty oak, chicory, roasted almonds, passion fruit, cacao and pecan pie.

Palate

Rich and full-bodied, with molasses, coal dust, dark fruit, roasted banana, dark chocolate and espresso.

Finish

Medium length, slightly bitter mocha, coal dust, molasses and black pepper.

Distillery: Bacardi
Region/Country: Puerto Rico
Type: Rum
Age: 4 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Charred oak casks
EAN no.: 5010677039093
Serving suggestion: In darker cocktails or on the rocks

Flavour profile

Dark · Molasses · Chocolate · Bold

Did you know?

Carta Negra is charcoal filtered, a technique normally used to lighten and soften spirits, but here it instead refines the dark rum without stripping its body, an unusual combination within Bacardi's range.

See our full range of Bacardi

Gold is not just a colour in this bottle's name. Carta Oro is the Bacardi expression bold enough to show a bit more character than its white little brother.

Expert description

Bacardi Carta Oro is a Rum from Puerto Rico, blended from 14 different rums matured 1-2 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum is called "Oro" after the Spanish word for gold and was first produced in 1862. In the 1960s, Bacardi moved the bulk of its production to Puerto Rico, where Carta Oro today is blended from fourteen different rums to achieve a more pronounced flavour profile than the house's light Carta Blanca. It functions as a natural step up from the white classic, with more body without becoming a heavy, dark rum.

Tasting notes

Nose

Nuts and butter, with restrained butterscotch, toffee and muscovado sugar plus light oak.

Palate

Rich and toasted, with charcoal, vanilla, toffee, fudge, dry walnut and citrus fruit.

Finish

Dry and lightly sweet.

Distillery: Bacardi
Region/Country: Puerto Rico
Type: Rum
Age: 1-2 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5010677028899
Serving suggestion: In a Cuba Libre, Daiquiri or on the rocks

Flavour profile

Nutty · Toffee · Round · Dry

Did you know?

Bacardi moved its production to Puerto Rico in the 1960s, after the original distillery in Cuba was nationalised following the revolution, making Puerto Rico home to the bulk of the house's modern production, including Carta Oro.

See our full range of Bacardi

There is a reason lemon and rum keep appearing in countless summer drinks. Bacardi Limon makes the shortcut there even shorter.

Expert description

Bacardi Limon is a Spirit Drink based on white rum from Puerto Rico, infused with natural lemon flavour and bottled at 32%.

Bacardi Limon builds on the house's light Carta Blanca style with a fresh, tart lemon flavour added. It was originally launched as one of the first citrus-flavoured rum variants on the market and has since been a staple in drinks where a light, tart citrus note is combined with rum's natural sweetness.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh lemon with a hint of sugarcane and a light tart aroma.

Palate

Tart and lightly sweet with clear citrus character, supported by a soft rum base.

Finish

Short, fresh and citrus-driven, without heavy or dominant notes.

Bottler: Bacardi
Region/Country: Puerto Rico
Type: Spirit Drink
ABV: 32%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5010677048071
Serving suggestion: In drinks with soda water or ginger ale

Flavour profile

Citrus · Fresh · Light · Tart

Did you know?

Bacardi Limon was one of the earliest flavoured rum variants on the market and helped pave the way for the whole category of flavoured spirits from major rum brands.

See our full range of Bacardi

A small bottle for a big taste experience, or simply to stock the bar cabinet without opening a full 70 cl. The miniature covers both needs.

Expert description

Bacardi Miniature Carta Blanca is a Rum from Puerto Rico, charcoal filtered for colour and bottled at 37.5% in a small 5 cl bottle.

The contents are identical to the large Carta Blanca bottle, the world's best-selling white rum, just in miniature format. This makes it ideal for hotel room hospitality, gift bundles, tastings, or testing a single cocktail without investing in a full bottle.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light and clean, with faint notes of vanilla, almond and a hint of tropical fruit.

Palate

Dry and light, with a soft sweetness and a subtle taste of sugarcane.

Finish

Short and clean, without heavy or dominant notes.

Bottler: Bacardi
Region/Country: Puerto Rico
Type: Rum
ABV: 37.5%
Size: 5 CL
EAN no.: 5010677010115
Natural colour: No
Serving suggestion: In a mojito, daiquiri or as a tasting sample

Flavour profile

Light · Dry · Clean · Mixable

Did you know?

Miniature bottles like this are often how many travellers first encounter Bacardi, whether in the minibar or duty-free shops, long before buying a full bottle at home.

See our full range of Bacardi

Raspberry and rum is a combination that sounds more like a dessert than a drink. Yet Bacardi Razz has found its firm place behind the bar.

Expert description

Bacardi Razz is a Spirit Drink based on white rum from Puerto Rico, infused with natural raspberry flavour and bottled at 32%.

Bacardi Razz starts from the house's light Carta Blanca style and adds a fresh, tart raspberry flavour, making it a shortcut to fruity cocktails without having to muddle fresh fruit or syrup yourself. The lower 32% strength makes it easy to use in larger quantities for drinks where sweetness and fruit carry most of the flavour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh raspberry with a hint of sugarcane and a light tart edge.

Palate

Sweet and fruity with clear raspberry character, supported by a soft rum base.

Finish

Short and fresh, with the raspberry sweetness fading gently.

Bottler: Bacardi
Region/Country: Puerto Rico
Type: Spirit Drink
ABV: 32%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 7610113028124
Serving suggestion: In fruity cocktails or over ice

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sweet · Light · Tart

Did you know?

Bacardi's flavoured range, which Razz belongs to, was developed to make classic rum-based drinks even easier to prepare at home, without having to muddle fresh fruit yourself.

See our full range of Bacardi

Cinnamon and nutmeg in a glass of rum sounds like a shortcut. At Bacardi it is closer to an old holiday tradition, poured out of the bottle all year round.

Expert description

Bacardi Spiced is a Spirit Drink spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg and bottled at 35%.

Bacardi Spiced blends unaged and aged rum from the house's Maestros de Ron, after which the blend is infused with cinnamon and nutmeg. The rum has rested in charred American oak casks, the same type used for several of the house's darker expressions, giving it a hint of smoke and its distinctive caramel colour. Because spices and natural flavouring are added, it is correctly sold as a Spirit Drink rather than pure rum.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla, orange zest, cinnamon and nutmeg, with a hint of dark cocoa and sweet caramel.

Palate

Caramel-like vanilla with almond and dried dark fruit, rounded off with cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of honey.

Finish

Softly finishing with a sweet, lightly smoky spice note.

Distillery: Bacardi
Region/Country: Caribbean
Type: Spirit Drink
ABV: 35%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Charred American oak casks
EAN no.: 7610113007518
Serving suggestion: On the rocks, with cola or in hot chocolate

Flavour profile

Spiced · Vanilla · Caramel · Sweet

Did you know?

Bacardi uses the title "Maestros de Ron" for its experienced blenders, a title passed down internally within the house and held by those behind all Bacardi blends, both the classic and the spiced expressions.

See our full range of Bacardi

Some bottles just sit in a cabinet. Others have travelled through duty free counters while the world looked very different. This Bacardi Superior Carta Blanca belongs to the second kind – stamped "For Duty Free Trade Only" and most likely bottled in Nassau, Bahamas, sometime in the 1960s, in the years right after the Bacardi family had to leave Cuba behind.

Expert's Description

Bacardi Superior Carta Blanca is a White Rum bottled by Bacardi & Co., Ltd. in Nassau, Bahamas, and this particular bottle carries the "For Duty Free Trade Only" stamp – meaning it was produced as an export edition intended for duty-free sale, typically in airports and on ferries.

The story behind this bottle reaches further back than the bottling date itself. Bacardi was founded in 1862 in Santiago de Cuba by Don Facundo Bacardí Massó, and it was there the bat first became the house symbol. When Fidel Castro's government nationalised Bacardi's Cuban assets in 1960, the family moved production abroad – among other places to Nassau, Bahamas, where a new base for the international business took shape. Bottles like this one, stamped Bacardi & Co. Ltd., Nassau, Bahamas, and distributed by Bacardi International Ltd. in Hamilton, Bermuda, are a tangible piece of that transition period.

The label shows wear and some soiling, which is entirely normal for a bottle of this age – but the bottle appears sealed with a high liquid level, suggesting limited evaporation over the decades.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Classic Bacardi Superior of this era was known for a light, clean aroma with faint vanilla and a hint of sugarcane sweetness – though for a bottle this old, we can't guarantee the aroma today still matches the original profile.

Palate

The style was originally dry and rounded, with a touch of almond and a soft, near-neutral character that made the rum a favourite in cocktails like the Daiquiri and Cuba Libre.

Finish

Short and clean in its youth, though after sixty-odd years in the bottle, colour, clarity and taste may all have shifted – something that can't be guaranteed for a bottle in this condition.

Specifications

Name: Bacardi Superior Carta Blanca
Distillery: Bacardi & Co., Ltd.
Region/Country: Bahamas (Nassau)
Type: White Rum
Edition: Duty Free export edition, "For Duty Free Trade Only"
Bottled: Estimated 1960s
Condition: Sealed, high liquid level, worn paper label

Flavour Profile

Classic · Light · Dry · Historic

Did You Know?

When Bacardi's Cuban factories were nationalised in 1960, it was the family's foresight in registering the "Bacardi" trademark internationally outside Cuba that saved the name – it was the seized factories that were later forced to sell their rum under an entirely different name.

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Green glass, a fragment of an old paper label, and a bat emblem that has outlasted decades on a shelf. A bottle like this always says more than it tastes — it's the story of a family who had to leave Cuba behind but kept the recipe.

Expert's Description

Bacardi Superior is a Puerto Rican Rum matured in white oak casks and bottled at 40% ABV.

This particular bottle is an older bottling in the large 175 CL size, often called a "half gallon" in the US, and carries a label design Bacardi no longer uses. The front label displays the brand's historic exhibition medals from Matanzas, Buffalo, Madrid and Paris, while the back label is the later "Silver Label" version with recipes for the Bacardi Cocktail and the Daiquiri — a sign that the bottle dates from a period when Bacardi Imports in Miami handled US distribution.

The rum is made by column-distilling sugarcane molasses, then rests for a minimum of one year in white oak casks before being carried through Bacardi's secret charcoal filtering process, a method the family has used since Don Facundo Bacardí Massó's first experiments in Santiago de Cuba in 1862. The result is a light, dry rum built to blend into a drink rather than dominate it.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The aroma is mild and lightly sweet, with a touch of almond and vanilla. On a bottle this old, the aromas can feel a little muted compared with a fresh bottling — this is a general style description for the category, not a guarantee of how this exact bottle tastes today.

Palate

Light and clean, with a hint of sugar and dried fruit, without the richness found in darker rums. It's built to carry citrus and mint in a cocktail rather than stand on its own.

Finish

Short and dry, with a faint warmth. Again, this describes the style in general — long-term storage may have changed both the strength and nuance of this specific bottle.

Specifications

Name: Bacardi Superior
Distillery: Bacardi Corporation
Region/Country: Puerto Rico
Type: Puerto Rican Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 175 CL
Cask type: White Oak Casks
Distillation method: Column Distilled
Serving suggestion: Enjoy in classic cocktails like the Daiquiri, Cuba Libre or Bacardi Cocktail, or on the rocks

Flavour Profile

Light · Dry · Mild Sweetness · Classic

Did You Know?

According to the family's own history, bats nested in the rafters of the very first distillery in Santiago de Cuba — a sight locally seen as good luck, and one that eventually became the bat emblem Bacardi still uses today.

See our full range of Rum

A bottle that still smells faintly of 1970s Miami. Green glass, a label that has seen better decades, and a tagline promising "Enjoyable Always and All Ways" — back when Bacardi sold summer in oversized formats to the American market.

Expert's Description

Bacardi Superior Silver Label is a Puerto Rican Rum bottled at 40% ABV (80 US Proof), originally sold in the large Half Gallon format used by the American market before the spirits industry switched to metric sizes around 1980.

The rum was distilled and bottled by Bacardi Corp in San Juan, Puerto Rico — the same "Cathedral of Rum" site in Cataño that still produces the majority of Bacardi's output today. After the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the Bacardi family lost everything they owned in Cuba, and Puerto Rico became the center of production instead. This Silver Label edition, marked "Light-Dry" with a "Built-In Pourer," is a period-accurate example of how Bacardi Superior was marketed in the US before the name was simplified to just "Ron Bacardi Superior" during the 1980s.

The back of the bottle carries the story further: two printed recipes for the Bacardi Daiquiri and the Bacardi Cocktail, which home bartenders of the era could follow straight off the glass. That makes this bottle more than an empty vessel — it's a piece of American cocktail history, from an era when Bacardi essentially defined what a daiquiri was.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bacardi Superior Silver Label is known for a light, clean aroma with faint notes of almond and a touch of citrus. Note: these reflect the general character of the style — not a tasting assessment of this specific bottle, whose contents and condition are unverified.

Palate

Dry and straightforward, built to carry a cocktail rather than stand alone — subtle sweetness, a touch of vanilla and a light nuttiness typical of charcoal-filtered white rum from this era.

Finish

Short and clean with little lingering aftertaste, which historically was the whole point: a rum built for the daiquiri, not for contemplation.

Specifications

Name: Bacardi Superior Silver Label Puerto Rican Rum
Distillery: Bacardi
Region/Country: Puerto Rico
Type: Puerto Rican Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 189 CL
Edition: Silver Label
Serving Suggestion: Classic in a Daiquiri or Bacardi Cocktail

Flavour Profile

Dry · Light · Almond · Citrus

Did You Know?

The Bacardi bat comes from a curiosity at the very first distillery in Santiago de Cuba: founder's wife Doña Amalia Bacardí discovered a colony of fruit bats living under the roof and chose them as a symbol of luck and family unity — a logo that still sits on every bottle today, a century and a half later.

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Pope Spirits has built its name on rum from Guatemala, Nicaragua and Trinidad & Tobago. With Balthazar, the house turns its attention to Barbados, the island often called the cradle of rum.

Expert Description

Balthazar 5 Year is a Barbados Rum, aged at least 5 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum is bottled by Pope Spirits and brings together craftsmanship from both Barbados and the Dominican Republic in a balanced composition. The minimum 5 years of ageing in oak casks shows clearly in the flavour, where aged oak adds depth and natural notes of vanilla create balance between sweetness and spice. The colour is entirely natural, arising solely from the long maturation process.

The result is a soft, rounded rum, where vanilla meets oak in a long, harmonious finish.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla, lightly toasted oak and tropical fruit.

Palate

Soft and balanced with spice and sweetness.

Finish

Rounded and long, evoking Caribbean breezes.

Specifications

Name: Balthazar 5 Year
Bottler: Pope Spirits
Region/Country: Barbados
Type: Barbados Rum
Age: 5 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN No.: 5703397003436
Natural Colour: Yes
Serving Suggestion: Neat or in rum cocktails

Flavour Profile

Soft · Rounded · Vanilla-forward · Balanced

Did You Know?

Barbados is regarded by many as the birthplace of rum, with the island's distilling tradition dating back to the 1650s, home to the earliest documented rum records in the Caribbean.

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Ten months in a 2000-litre armagnac cask from Gascony. An unusually long journey for a rum that began life in the Caribbean.

Expert description

Bapt & Clem's 8 Years Armagnac Cask Finish is a Rum from the Dominican Republic, matured 8 years in bourbon casks in the Caribbean and finished 10 months in armagnac casks in Gascony, bottled at 45%.

The rum spends its first years in bourbon casks in the Caribbean, after which it is sent to Gascony in southwestern France, where it is finished in massive 2000-litre casks that previously held armagnac for 30 years. The long French-Caribbean journey gives the rum a complexity spanning from classic rum notes to floral, honeyed nuances from the armagnac cask.

Tasting notes

Nose

Clove, cardamom, cinnamon and ginger marinated in honey and orange blossom water, with creamy notes and a hint of sandalwood.

Palate

Soft summer fruit and smoky earthiness, with honey, syrupy peach, apricot and pear, plus rose petals and crushed violets.

Finish

Polished oak, cedar and sandalwood, in waves of woody nuances.

Region/Country: Dominican Republic
Type: Rum
Age: 8 years
ABV: 45%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, finished 10 months in armagnac casks
Serving suggestion: Neat, as a digestif

Flavour profile

Spiced · Floral · Honeyed · Fruity

Did you know?

The armagnac casks used for the finish hold a full 2000 litres and previously held armagnac for 30 years, making them considerably larger than the casks typically used for cask finishing in the rum world.

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Kenneth Autzen started Nobilis with private bottlings for the Danish Caroni Fan Club. Today Batch 23 is one of the releases showing why the small Danish bottler has earned international attention.

Expert Description

Barbados FS 2006 Single Cask 16 Year Nobilis Batch 23 is a Barbados Rum from a single cask, distilled in 2006, aged 16 years and bottled at cask strength 65.4%.

The rum is bottled by Nobilis, a Danish independent bottler founded by Kenneth Autzen, known for its unapologetically powerful single cask releases at cask strength. The FS designation refers to Foursquare Distillery in Barbados, where the rum is distilled. Batch 23 was selected and bottled from a single cask with no additives or filtration, giving a pure expression of both the distillate and its 16 years of ageing.

The result is a powerful, concentrated rum, where tropical fruit meets spice and the cask's strength.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Tropical fruit, caramel and warm spices.

Palate

Intense and powerful with brown sugar, vanilla and a hint of pepper.

Finish

Long and warm with lingering spice.

Specifications

Name: Barbados FS 2006 Single Cask 16 Year Nobilis Batch 23
Bottler: Nobilis
Region/Country: Barbados
Type: Barbados Rum
Age: 16 Years
ABV: 65.4%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 2006
Serving Suggestion: Neat in a snifter, or with a splash of water

Flavour Profile

Powerful · Spiced · Tropical · Cask Strength · Rare

Investment Potential

Medium. As a single cask bottling from a small Danish bottler in limited quantity, bottles like this become harder to find once the cask is emptied.

Did You Know?

Nobilis was founded by Kenneth Autzen, who first made private bottlings for Denmark's Caroni Fan Club in 2019 and 2020, before establishing his own bottling house in 2021.

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Australia's oldest still-running distillery started life as a floating illegal still dodging police between the cane fields - today Beenleigh is an institution, and this bottle is a rare glimpse of it.

Expert Description

Beenleigh Artisan 2007/2021 Blackadder Raw Cask is a Finest Australian Rum, distilled in 2007, aged 13 years and bottled at cask strength 65.1%.

The rum comes from the Australian distillery Beenleigh Artisan and was selected by the Scottish independent bottler Blackadder for their Raw Cask series. With only 273 bottles from cask BR21-02, this is a rare chance to taste Australian rum from one of the world's most historic distilleries. The rum is non-chill filtered and retains its natural colour.

Beenleigh still brews on pot stills and some of the original copper equipment from the distillery's founding in 1884, giving the rum a rustic, powerful character that sets it apart from the more familiar Caribbean styles.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Powerful and pot still driven, with molasses, tropical fruit and a rustic, earthy depth.

Palate

Intense and spiced with dark caramel, toasted wood and a warm, persistent sweetness.

Finish

Long and powerful, with molasses and spice to the last.

Specifications

Name: Beenleigh Artisan 2007/2021 Blackadder Raw Cask
Bottler: Blackadder
Region/Country: Australia
Type: Finest Australian Rum
Age: 13 years
ABV: 65.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Cask No. BR21-02
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: July 2021
Number of bottles: 273
EAN no.: 5055030612292

Flavour Profile

Powerful · Molasses · Rustic · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium - Beenleigh is a rare origin in the rum world, and only 273 bottles from a single cask make this release hard to find again.

Did You Know?

Beenleigh Artisan is Australia's oldest continuously running distillery, founded in 1884 - though the story starts even earlier, with an illegal floating still named the SS Walrus that drifted between the cane fields to evade police.

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In Belize City the Perdomo family has been distilling rum since a small bar called Travellers grew into a distillery, and a single cask from there has now been captured by Italian bottler Valinch & Mallet.

Expert Description

Belize Travellers 2006/2022 Valinch & Mallet 16 Year Traditional is a Belize Rum from a single cask, aged for 16 years and bottled at 56.3%.

The rum comes from Travellers Liquors, whose history begins in 1953 when Jaime Omario Perdomo opened a bar of the same name in Belize City. The family later registered the distillery officially in 1983 and upgraded the facility in 1992, moving away from acid-based fast fermentation in favour of natural molasses fermentation followed by double distillation on a triple column setup. This gives Travellers a cleaner, softer style than many other Caribbean molasses rums. The cask was selected by Valinch & Mallet, the Italian independent bottler run by Davide Romano and Fabio Ermoli, and bottled as cask number 3 as part of their Traditional range. The rum was distilled in 2006 and rested for 16 years before being bottled in 2022.

The result is a soft, sweet-toned rum, where coconut and vanilla meet caramel and dark chocolate, carried by its relatively restrained cask strength of 56.3%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Coconut, vanilla and a touch of caramel.

Palate

Toffee, milk chocolate and mild spice with a creamy body.

Finish

Soft and lightly sweet with a final hint of dark chocolate.

Specifications

Name: Belize Travellers 2006/2022 16 Year
Distillery: Travellers Liquors
Bottler: Valinch & Mallet
Region/Country: Belize
Type: Belize Rum
Age: 16 Years
ABV: 56.3%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 2006
Bottled: 2022
Serving Suggestion: Neat in a snifter or with a few drops of water

Flavour Profile

Sweet-toned · Coconut-forward · Creamy · Spiced · Soft

Investment Potential

Low to Medium. Single cask releases from Valinch & Mallet are limited, but Travellers Liquors remains an active distillery, which keeps rarity at a moderate level compared to closed distilleries.

Did You Know?

Travellers Liquors did not start out as a distillery but as a bar in Belize City, where founder Jaime Omario Perdomo experimented with his own rum blends for guests long before the family obtained an official distilling licence.

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Longpond and Clarendon - two of Jamaica's most iconic pot still distilleries - come together in this rum with the classic Jamaican funk.

Expert description

Bellamy's Reserve Rum Jamaica Pot Still is a Rum with distinct Jamaican character, produced through pot still distillation from Longpond and Clarendon, bottled at 43%.

Pot still distillation gives the rum both depth, fullness and plenty of aromatic power. It leans on the classic Jamaican style with fruitiness, esters and a natural, lightly funky edge, while remaining rounded and easy to drink at its moderate strength. There is a discreet note of fermented fruit and cane juice, giving the rum its authentic pot still profile.

Bellamy's Reserve Rum specialises in carefully selected rum releases with a focus on clear distillation character and origin. The Jamaica Pot Still release is a natural choice for those who want the raw, characterful Jamaican style without the extreme ester strength found in the heaviest releases.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe tropical fruit, banana, pineapple and a hint of overripe mango.

Palate

Soft but characterful, with sweetness from caramel and brown sugar, tropical fruit and a hint of citrus.

Finish

Lightly dry, with lingering Jamaican funk.

Specifications

Name: Reserve Rum Jamaica Pot Still
Distillery: Longpond & Clarendon
Bottler: Bellamy's Reserve Rum
Region/Country: Jamaica
Type: Pot Still Rum
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: Neat or on ice

Flavour profile

Tropical fruit · Funky · Caramel · Esters

Did you know?

Jamaican pot still rum is known for its "funk" - a distinctive, almost fermented aroma that comes from long fermentation and traditional pot still distillation, sharply setting it apart from lighter, more neutral rum styles.

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Fifteen months in Oloroso sherry casks have given this Barbados rum layers of raisin, milk chocolate and salted caramel, carried by sherry's characteristic depth.

Expert description

Bellamy's Reserve Rum Oloroso Cask Finish is a Rum from Barbados, finished in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 44.3%.

The rum received its finish in Oloroso sherry casks for 15 months, giving a deep and well-balanced flavour profile with both sweetness and complexity. The tasting experience is full and creamy with nuances of dried fruit, raisins, milk chocolate, roasted pecans, buttery baked cookies and soft butterscotch, while a hint of pepper and salted caramel adds edge.

Bellamy's Reserve Rum is a German-based rum brand specialising in carefully selected single casks and unique cask finishes. This Oloroso release is part of a series focused on single cask maturation, and is a natural choice for collectors and enthusiasts seeking a Barbados rum with clear sherry character.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit, raisin and milk chocolate with a hint of nuts.

Palate

Full and creamy, with roasted pecans, buttery cookies and soft butterscotch.

Finish

Elegant and deep, with a hint of pepper and salted caramel.

Specifications

Name: Reserve Rum Oloroso Cask Finish
Distillery: Bellamy's Reserve Rum
Region/Country: Barbados
Type: Rum
ABV: 44.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish
Serving suggestion: Neat at room temperature

Flavour profile

Sherry · Raisin · Caramel · Creamy

Did you know?

Bellamy's Reserve Rum specialises in finding rare and unusual casks for its rum - Oloroso is just one of several cask types the brand experiments with across its releases.

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Fiji isn't the first place that comes to mind when the talk turns to rum, but that very rarity is part of the appeal. Berry Bros. & Rudd, the London wine merchant founded in 1698, has found a single cask far out in the Pacific and brought it home under its own name.

Expert Description

Berry's Fijian 11 Year is a Fiji Rum from Berry's Own Selection, bottled at 46%.

The rum is selected and bottled by Berry Bros. & Rudd, the renowned English wine house founded in 1698, under the Berry's Own Selection label, where the house selects individual casks from distilleries around the world for independent bottling. This Fijian rum has aged for 11 years, a rare provenance that stands markedly apart from the more familiar Caribbean and South American rum styles.

Fiji as a rum origin is still a rarity on the Danish market, making this Berry's release an opportunity to explore a style few rum lovers already know.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft ripe fruit and acacia honey, full-bodied with copper nuances, complemented by exotic fruit, stone and almond, plus vanilla.

Palate

Ripe fruit, a treacle-like note and light, well-balanced wood, where fruit, honey, chocolate and vanilla blend into an almost brioche-like texture.

Finish

Clean and lingering with candied fruit, resin and a touch of copper funk.

Specifications

Name: Berry's Fijian 11 Year
Bottler: Berry Bros. & Rudd
Region/Country: Fiji
Age: 11 Years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Edition: Berry's Own Selection
Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed neat at room temperature or with a single ice cube

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Exotic · Round · Rare

Did You Know?

Berry Bros. & Rudd has traded wine and spirits from the same address in St James's, London, since 1698, making it one of Britain's oldest still-operating spirits houses.

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Known for its award-winning London whisky, Bimber distillery uses both pot and column stills to create an unaged rum with equal parts spiced sharpness and creamy balance.

Expert Description

Bimber London White Rum is an England Rum, a single blended spirit made on both pot and column stills and bottled unaged at 40%.

Bimber Distillery, founded in 2015 in west London, is primarily known for its single malt whisky, but has expanded its repertoire with this rum release. The rum is blended from distillates produced on both traditional pot stills and more modern column stills, giving a complex, flavourful profile that is unusual for an unaged rum bottled in a city like London.

The result is a crystal-clear, aromatic rum with pronounced spiciness and a surprisingly creamy, buttery character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh grassy top notes and cracked black pepper, accompanied by caramel, toffee and a hint of chocolate raisin.

Palate

Clean and smooth with a light sweetness of dark Muscovado sugar, plus lime sorbet, white chocolate and a touch of spice.

Finish

Delicate and round with a hint of caramel and a touch of dark chocolate.

Specifications

Name: Bimber London White Rum
Bottler: Bimber Distillery
Region/Country: England
Type: Single Blended Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation Method: Pot and column still
Serving Suggestion: In a Mojito or Daiquiri

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Creamy · Fresh · Buttery · Smooth

Did You Know?

Bimber Distillery is located in west London and is primarily known for its award-winning single malt whisky, making this rum release a rare departure from the distillery's core product.

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Black Tears was Cuba's first spiced rum, and it still stands apart from the crowd by staying far less sweet than most competitors in the category.

Expert description

Black Tears Spiced is a Cuban Spiced Rum flavoured with natural spices and bottled at 40%.

The rum comes from the Vigia distillery in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, produced in a joint venture between the Norwegian company Island Rum Company and Zerus, the commercial arm of Cuba's state-owned sugar company Azcuba. Black Tears is marketed as Cuba's first spiced rum and sets itself apart from many other spiced rums through a low sugar content, typical of Cuban rum tradition, giving a more bittersweet than straightforwardly sweet profile.

Tasting notes

Nose

Spices gently unfold under a cut of candied orange peel, with vanilla, cloves and nutmeg plus a hint of roasted coffee.

Palate

Golden syrup, coffee, cocoa and a touch of peppery spice, with caramelised nuts, chocolate richness and gently oak-spiced wood.

Finish

A gentle, mysterious sweetness of cocoa accompanies a punch of coffee, with a lingering, spiced trace of red chilli and more chocolate to mellow it.

Specifications

Distillery: Vigia Distillery
Region/Country: Cuba
Type: Spiced Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8500000590294
Serving suggestion: Over ice or in a Cuban-inspired cocktail

Flavour profile

Bittersweet · Coffee · Cocoa · Spiced · Elegant

Did you know?

Black Tears was developed by the Norwegian company Island Rum Company in partnership with Cuba's state-owned sugar company, making it one of very few Cuban spirits products created through an international joint venture directly with the Cuban state.

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A dark name for an entirely clear rum - Black Tears Super Dry goes the opposite way from the brand's darker releases and stays light and dry.

Expert Description

Black Tears Super Dry is a white Cuba Rum, bottled at 40%.

Super Dry is Black Tears' clear, dry release, markedly different from the brand's better-known dark and spiced rums. The style is intended as a versatile, clean white rum suited to cocktails where a light, dry base is preferred over a sweeter, darker character. Black Tears is a Cuban brand that has built its name around more characterful, dark rum releases, making Super Dry a deliberate contrast in the range.

Cuba is known for a lighter, drier rum style compared to many of the heavier Caribbean traditions, and Super Dry is a clear example of this Cuban approach.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Light sugarcane and a hint of citrus.

Palate

Dry and clean with minimal sweetness.

Finish

Short and fresh.

Specifications

Name: Black Tears Super Dry
Distillery: Black Tears
Region/Country: Cuba
Type: Super Dry White Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8500004830020
Serving suggestion: In cocktails or on ice

Flavour Profile

Dry · Clean · Light · Fresh

Did You Know?

Black Tears is best known for its dark, spiced rum releases, making Super Dry a deliberate contrast - a clear, dry style that shows the brand's breadth beyond its darker bottles.

See our full range of Black Tears

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