Rhum Ancienne annee 1772 is exactly the bottle ranked highest in terms of rarity and value it has brought to the history of Rhum. If you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of it, you can fully appreciate the meticulous craftsmanship evident on the bottle’s surface created by master artisans. The somewhat rustic shape enhances its charm with a distinct classic feel, highlighted by a carefully handwritten label. The cracked seal and rusted metal tag, detailing the “mysterious” contents of this bottle, add to its allure. The 1772 Rhum bottle, named Annee, originates from the wine cellar of the distinguished R.B Sabatier, with the initials “B.S” prominently embossed on the front of the bottle. So, who was he?
Raphaël Bienvenu Sabatier (abbreviated as R.B Sabatier) was a highly renowned French surgeon and anatomist. In 1757, he was one of the youngest individuals appointed as a Major in military surgery and became a member of the Royal Academy of Surgery and the Royal Academy of Sciences (now the French Academy of Sciences). After the French Revolution, he took on the additional responsibility of serving Emperor Napoleon I as a consulting surgeon. Besides his invaluable contributions to medicine, he had a passion for collecting spirits, with Rhum being one of the few he meticulously preserved. His collection has been passed down through many generations, most notably featuring the Rhum Ancienne annee 1772 bottle. Despite changing hands among many collectors, the bottle’s condition has remained nearly intact.
It would be a daunting task even for the most experienced experts to find a single, oldest version of Rhum in the world. It is an honor that this version is currently present in Vietnam.