Queensland Rum Day

WHAT IS QUEENSLAND RUM DAY?

This year's Queensland Rum Day is on the 2nd November 2024. Every year we raise our glass to the unmistakable taste of Queensland and the incredible Queensland Rum producers using Queensland sugar cane to create liquid gold. The annual celebration of the much loved spirit of Queensland all over Australia and the World.

To celebrate Queensland Rum Day, rum producers across the state will stage a series of events:

  • Beenleigh Artisan Distillery will host a showcase of artisan rums from across the state’s boutique distilleries. The day will feature market stores, live music, food and rum tastings.
  • Nil Desperandum will host a ‘Rum Fire’ celebration of Queensland rum at its Distillery door, featuring a sunset bonfire, five guest distilleries showcasing their own artisan rums, music, kids entertainment and food trucks.
  • Bundaberg Rum Distillery will provide all adult Distillery Experience Tour guests with a free Bundaberg Alcoholic Ginger Beer shirt to mark the occasion.
  • Kalki Moon Distillery will be conducting Complimentary Distillery Tours.
Can I visit other Queensland distilleries on QLD RUM DAY?

Yes, you can! Plan your journey at qlddistillerytrail.com.au

Queensland Rum Day
The Rum Consortium's 2024 Limited Edition Blend

The Rum Consortium's 2024 Limited Edition Blend

A Nil Desperandum Rum collaboration with Bundaberg Rum,
Beenleigh Rum, & Kalki Moon.

When the hard-working makers of Queensland's very best rums got chatting over a rum or two, they asked themselves the obvious question, "Mate, how good would a blend of each of our rums taste?"

A limited-edition blend created in celebration of Queensland Rum Day.

Rum made from sugar cane nourished by Queensland sunshine and rain.

It's the Australian Spirit.

Please raise your glass to Queensland Rum and drink it your favourite way.

We love it over ice topped with ginger beer and freshly cut lime.

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Queensland Rum Day Landscape

About Queensland Rum

Since 1906 “Queensland Rum” is defined by Australian law as a spirit of at least 37% ABV obtained by the distillation in Queensland and maturation in Queensland by storage in wood for at least 2 years of a fermented liquor derived from the products of sugar cane, being distillation carried out in such a manner that the spirit possesses the taste, aroma and other characteristics generally attributed to rum. Queensland Rum is most commonly made from molasses but can also be made from sugar cane juice, sugar cane syrup and sugar.

Photo of David Ridden

David Ridden

PRESIDENT, QUEENSLAND DISTILLERS’ ASSOCIATION

Queensland spirits are equal to the very best in the World and Queensland distillers offers the opportunity for spirits to be to Queensland what wine is to South Australia, an export and job creation power house

Since July 1867 rum distilled from Queensland sugar cane is to many Australian’s the definitive taste of Queensland but as consumers preferences and education are evolving so is Queensland rum. Queensland rum producers are sparing no effort to produce and mature rums that challenge long held beliefs that imported rums are always better. The Queensland Rum Renaissance is well and truly a thing!

Queensland Rum Day Sugarcane

Queensland Sugar

Sugarcane was brought to Australia in 1788 on the ships of the First Fleet. It was not immediately successful even though attempts were still being made more than thirty years later to grow sugarcane commercially at Port Macquarie in NSW. Captain Louis Hope and John Buhot established the first viable Australian cane plantation at Ormiston near Brisbane in 1862. Two years later Hope started up the first commercial sugar mill.

OUR DISTILLERIES

Queensland proudly has Australia’s oldest distillery - Beenleigh Rum, the largest - Bundaberg Rum, and a growing number of incredible Artisan producers including Nil Desperandum, producing Australia’s first Australian Certified Organic Rum, and household names including Burdekin Rum, Capricorn Distilling, FNQ Rum Co, Kalki Moon and Sarina Sugar Shed.

Bundaberg

Home of Australia's Largest Rum distillery

Humble Beginnings

Distillation of rum in Queensland commenced on the 23rd of July 1867.

In April 1869 the newly appointed Chief Inspector of Distilleries tabled before Parliament that there were six licensed rum distilleries at work in Queensland, and a total of 270,000 litres of rum had been produced (at 40% ABV).

Today Queensland Rum is Australia’s most popular rum and over three million bottles of Queensland Rum are sold every year.

Queensland Rum Day Distilling

23 July 1867

Oaklands / Caboolture

Claudius Buchanan Whish & John Raymond Trevilian

23 July 1867

Morayfields / Caboolture

George Raff

7 July 1868

St. Mungo - Central Mill / Maryborough

John Meiklejohn

17 September 1868

Malungmavel / Eagleby

George Board

13 November 1868

Alexandra / Mackay

John Davidson

23 November 1868

Ormiston / Cleveland

Louis Hope

Queensland Rum Day Distilling Queensland Rum Day Distilling