Sketches of the Past is a rare and evocative collection of two exeptional rums, inspired by the extraordinary life and legacy of Count Wacław Rzewuski — a 19th-century Polish aristocrat, orientalist, and legendary horseman who abandoned noble privilege in pursuit of the unknown.
In 1817, Rzewuski — dubbed the Golden-Bearded Emir — ventured deep into the heart of the Arabian desert. A fearless explorer and gifted linguist, he earned the trust of thirteen Bedouin tribes, was granted the title of Emir, and became the first European to cross the remote and mysterious region of Najd, now part of Saudi Arabia. His adventures became the stuff of legends, immortalized in poetry, song, and art across Europe and the Middle East.
Beyond his daring, Rzewuski left behind a singular work of art and knowledge: the manuscript "Sur les Chevaux Orientaux et Provenant des Races Orientales" – a 352-page opus filled with notes, maps, and over 400 illustrations and sketches, including striking depictions of purebred Arabian horses. These noble steeds, revered for their strength, speed, and lineage, would go on to influence the breeding traditions of Europe for generations to come.
The Desert Horses collection pays homage to this heritage with two exceptional bottlings — a 38-year-old Jamaican rum from Long Pond and a 36-year-old Guyanese rum from the legendary wooden stills of Enmore. Each label features one of Rzewuski’s original equine illustrations, a moment frozen in ink, captured over 200 years ago.
Both rums are single cask, bottled at cask strength, and strictly limited in availability. They offer a sensory journey through time — rich, layered, and unapologetically bold, just like the man who inspired them.This is not just rum.It is history, adventure, and art — distilled.
