Hi there,
While I personally like Dictador rums (the old 20 and XOs are cool everyday sippers and solid gateways, I also enjoyed one of the “best ofs” I had), I have certain feelings about their branding policy. It turns out that they are more focused on bottles than on the spirit inside. I know that Caroni released their Guyana Stocks in hand-blown and normal bottles and that the handmade is more expensive, but it’s also full proof (compare Caroni 1994 Velier 23 Year Old 100 Proof Heavy / Guyana Stock | Rum Auctioneer and Caroni 1994 Velier 23 Year Old Full Proof Heavy / Guyana Stock | Rum Auctioneer).
The first release of this kind I think was Dictador Series Wixarica, bottles ornamented by Native Indians, https://dictador.com/product/wixarika/, then they collaborated with Lalique on their Generations Dictador - An International Company With A Heart, which was improperly called “the most epensive rum in the world” by several hyping magazines. And it was running on Rum Auctioneer for high prices Dictador 1976 Generations in Lalique | Rum Auctioneer. Today I noticed the Golden Cities Dictador - An International Company With A Heart.
And the Golden Cities is what I’d like to discuss (with my oppinion also). The first read on the website is “THE MOST EXCLUSIVE SPIRIT IN HISTORY: THE FIRST ONE BILLION-DOLLAR LIMITED EDITION”. Scrolling down, we have " Each bottle is expected to have a value of millions of dollars. Once the edition reaches a billion dollars, it will be closed forever.". Not to mention the bottle is made with 999.9 gold, I think such pure gold can be easily deformed with bare hand.
My thoughts are:
- “it will be closed forever” certainly refers to the bottle… it might be as well empty inside
- why are they giving the high price in advertizing their product? Usually shops do the opposite
- I somehow don’t like it. I mean, I respect the art part and also the ones who earn with rum investing but this particular bottle I just don’t understand. The rum is out of focus. It’s like a rum cake, the role of rum is secondary. And the diminishment of the rum role with simultaneous glorification of the high price… I know there are different oppinions about high prices of Velier Demerara rums but these spirits are at least highly-rated and occassionally drank.
Sorry if I got driven away, If I harass somehow feel free to remove the topic… otherwise I’m very curious what you guys think. Arranging a split?