Australia’s ‘oldest’ rum distillery opens to visitors

Beenleigh Rum, thought to be the oldest rum distillery in Australia, has opened to visitors for the first time since the 1980s.

Beenleigh Rum has opened its distillery to the public for the first time since the 1980s

The Bickford’s Group-owned distillery has constructed an AU$5 million (€3.46 million) visitor centre at the site, which opened to the public on 2 December.

In addition to the seeing the visitor centre, guests will also now also be able to tour the production site.

“It’s been something I think the local community and tourism industry has been crying out for, for a long, long time,” Chris Illman, a Bickford’s Group spokesperson, told the Brisbane Times.

“Consumers are looking to understand how to make great spirits. This provides the opportunity to change how people view rum in this country.”

According to Illman, four million people travel to Brisbane and the Gold Coast each year, and there is a “huge opportunity for 200,000 people to visit” the distillery.

“We can share with them the history of when the property was founded to the current day,” explained Gavin Butler, venue manager at Beenleigh Rum.

“We’ll take them to distillery and show them how we make the product, as well as the great barrel room where we age the rum. Visitors can also taste the products in the visitors centre.”

The Beenleigh distillery initially opened in the late 1800s and produces its rum from Australian molasses and using copper pot distillation. Its products are aged for up to five years and include Beenleigh Copper Pot Distilled Rum, Beenleigh Double Barrel, Beenleigh Honey and Beenleigh White.