Bidding advice
You can place bids either under the lot image on the main auction page or on the right side of the individual lot page.
Placing a Maximum Bid
Use the "Set your bid limit" button on the left side of the bidding panel to enter the highest amount you're willing to bid on a lot. Our system will then automatically raise your bid in set increments if you’re outbid, up to your maximum. If someone bids above your set limit, we’ll notify you by email so you can choose whether to increase your bid.
Placing a Single Bid
Alternatively, place a single bid by selecting the button on the right side of the bidding panel. The button displays the amount needed for the next increment. For example, if the current highest bid is £50.00, the button will show "+ £5.00" (reflecting a £5.00 increment).
Incremental Bidding Explained
Our system increases bids based on preset increments, as shown in the table below, whether you set a maximum bid or make a single bid.
Bottle Details
This rhum agricole was distilled in 2004 and 2006 and bottled by Velier in 2021. The bottle features a photograph taken by Elliot Erwitt in 2005 in Rome, Italy.
Saint James 2004/2006 Velier 15 Year Old Magnum Series #1 / Elliott Erwitt
The Saint James brand was founded in 1765 in Saint-Pierre by the alchemist priest, Edmund Lefébure, who had built a sugar mill and distillery on the Trouvaillant estate to raise funds for the Hospitaller order, Fathers for Charity. The order lost all of their possessions following the French revolution, and the estate on Martinique passed from the state into private hands. The most successful of these was François-Paulin Lambert, who took over the Saint James plantation in 1890 having worked at its distributor for many years. It was Lambert who patented the now iconic square bottle in 1882. His family ran the Saint-Pierre distillery until 1955, surviving both the devastating eruption of Mount Pelée in 1902, and the rum market collapse following the first world war. The following two decades saw a period of transition for Saint James, which converted for the first time to the production of agricole rather than molasses-based rums, and in 1974, funded by new owners Cointreau, moved to the new distillery at Saint-Marie where this was produced. Today it is run by La Martinquaise (who bought it from Remy Cointreau in 2003) and is one of the largest rum producers on the island, operating six creole column stills to produce over 4 million litres of rum per year.
This rhum agricole was distilled in 2004/2006 and bottled by Velier in collaboration with La Maison du Whisky in 2021. The bottle features a photograph taken by Elliott Erwitt in 2005 in Rome, Italy.
Velier was founded by Casimir Chaix in Genoa in 1947 as a wine and spirits importer and distributor. By the 1980s they were still a small family-company with less than ten staff. This all changed in 1986 when it was purchased by Luca Gargano, a former brand ambassador for Saint James who was at the time still in his twenties. Under his direction, they selected their first single cask whiskies in 1992, and their first rum in 1996. In the decades that followed, Velier have gone on to become one of the most collectible brands in the industry, and Gargano has positioned them as the one of the foremost authorities and bottlers of rum anywhere in the world.
Saint James (Sainte-Marie)
The current production home of the historic Saint-James brand of Martinique rum. It was opened in 1973 under the ownership of Cointreau & Cie SA. Today the distillery is owned by La Martinquaise and also produces rum for the J. Bally brand.
Velier
An Italian importer and distributor founded in Genoa in 1947. Under the ownership of Luca Gargano since 1986, it has become one of the most important companies in the world rum. It represents a huge array of brands in Europe as well as marketing a number of its own.
Auction results
To view previous auction results of your favourite bottles, please log in or register.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, we can ship to many countries worldwide. For a full list of available destinations, along with shipping costs and any restrictions, please visit our Shipping page.
In order to bid above £2,000 we require an identity check. This is to ensure the legitimacy of users so that bids are valid and fair.
You can verify your account and upload your identity documents on your Personal Profile.
Our monthly auctions end from 7:00 PM (UK local time) on the closing date. If a bid is placed after 7:00 PM on any lot, the entire auction will be extended by an additional two minutes.
The auction will end once all bidding has ceased for two minutes. Based on previous auction activity, the auction will continue for several hours and is most likely to finish between 9pm - 11pm (UK local time).
At Rum Auctioneer, we accept consignments from both private collectors and trade sellers. Whether you have a single bottle of something special or need to clear out older stock, we're here to help you find the right buyers.
We offer free, no-obligation valuations and support you with getting your bottles to us, including free bottle collection within the UK and EU (subject to value and volume).
Once your rum arrives at our warehouse, we handle everything – from creating professional listings and taking photos to promoting your bottles to a global audience. With a user-friendly website, low buyer commissions, and worldwide shipping options, our auctions attract a wide range of buyers from all over the world, increasing the chances of a great sale.
If you’re ready to sell, visit our Seller’s Guide to get started.
