Rum in The Bay State
Massachusetts has been a pioneer of American rum since the 1600s when it was a leading distilling centre in colonial New England and continues to have a thriving rum scene today.
On a map, Massachusetts resembles the shape of a bent arm. In the west, the Berkshire Mountains, a rugged range of rolling hills and dense forests, dominate the landscape. The fertile Pioneer Valley stretches through the central region, leading towards the coastal plains where the bustling urban centres of Greater Boston and the picturesque Cape Cod peninsula thrive. The continental climate has significant variations, creating distinct microclimates across the state.
The story of rum in Massachusetts began with a distillery in Boston as early as 1667 and Puritan families in Medford pioneering rum distilling in the town. In Medford, John Hall ran the first commercial rum business from 1715 to 1720. By the 18th century, Boston had become a major centre of rum distilling driven by the Atlantic slave trade. This triangular trade exchanged rum, molasses, enslaved people, and other goods, including codfish, the state symbol.
Molasses flowed into Boston where it was transformed into rum by distillers. Rum spread far and wide in taverns and was the lifeblood of the colonial economy – accounting for 80% of New England’s exports and the preferred drink of the colonists. Today, Massachusetts rum brands are among the most recognised in the United States and a cornerstone of the thriving New England rum scene.
This rum guide travel through the heart of New England, from the Berkshires in the west to the coastal islands of Cape Cod in the east.
The Berkshires
Known for its mountainous terrain, rolling hills, and lush forests, the Berkshires has a temperate climate with 4 distinct seasons. The stunning natural beauty of Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts, and it’s numerous lakes and rivers might have you looking for refreshment after a day of Appalachian hiking.
The Distillery at Greylock WORKS
Founded in 2015 in the historic Greylock Works mill complex in the hills of North Adams by Ryan Max Riley, Emily Vasiliauskas, and Joan Gaskins. Master Distiller Ryan, is a true rum artisan trained at some of the best distilleries in the world. They make gin and rum on a traditional still handmade and hammered out of copper in Spain.
Local Legend Spiced Rum is made with recipes from long-forgotten books, using cinnamon, black peppercorn, cloves, and local honey. First Snow Silver Rum is a new rum inspired by winter. It’s fermented slowly at cold temperatures to create deeper brown sugar flavours with notes of banana and spice.
Try their selection of cocktails made with these rums. Next door is Berkshire Cider Project with craft local ciders and a tasting room of their own and STATE Food + Drink restaurant, featuring farm-to-table food, making Greylock Works mill a great place to spend an afternoon or evening.
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Berkshire Mountain Distillers
Founded in 2007 in Sheffield, Berkshire Mountain Distillers produces a range of spirits and is especially known for gin but also, whiskey, vodka and rum. As one of the original craft distilleries in the region, they are passionate about local spirits. Their production begins with high-quality molasses, the exact type of which influences the final flavour profile. This molasses undergoes a meticulous fermentation process, followed by distillation in copper pot stills, a traditional method that allows for precise control over the spirit’s character. Their rum offerings include a Barrel Rested Rum aged in used bourbon barrels, a White Rum showcasing the pure character of the molasses, and a Spiced Rum infused with a blend of spices. You can find their products locally and in many states across the U.S.
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Central Massachusetts
The landscape of rolling hills, forests, and plains is interspersed with vibrant cities and charming towns. This includes parts of Worcester, Middlesex, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. The region played a crucial role in the American Revolution, there’s Wachusett Mountain a popular ski resort, and Worcester a cultural hub to explore.
Deep Roots Distillery
The small distillery in Sturbridge opened its doors in 2022. Their motto is “We source local, so you support local”. Every rum mash starts with molasses and local high-quality honey. The rum is column distilled and aged in American white oak, used bourbon and whiskey barrels. The current rum releases include a Caribbean-style Deep Roots Spiced Rum and a unique honey habanero rum that will make your tastebuds tingle.
Set in a restored historic New England mill, visitors can enjoy a full menu featuring many made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients. You can also sip a rum cocktail or try a spirit flight along with non-alcoholic options in their family-friendly tasting room.
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Spicy Water Distillery
Founded by Barry Bacon in 2021 in the historic Armory Village of downtown Millbury, this micro-distillery produces vodka, gin, agave spirit, and rum. Spicy Water believes in doing things a little differently. New England and Caribbean rum production traditions influence the Sunken Island Rum which was released in 2023. The recipe combines Blackstrap molasses and pure sugar cane, creating a slightly sweet and pepper-spiced flavour in the silver rum. They utilize a 100-gallon column still to produce the rum.
They currently produce 3 rum flavours: unaged Silver Rum, Espresso Rum aged in Malbec wine barrels and macerated with espresso beans, and Maple Rum aged in used rum barrels and proofed with local dark maple syrup. They also produce No Strings Attached Lemoncello, a lemon cream liqueur with their rum as the base— aged and macerated with Meyer lemons.
In 2025, they plan to create an Orange-Flavoured Spiced Rum and may release a 2-year-old Brown Sugar Barrel Rum.
The 2000 sq ft tasting room and event space serves popular cocktails; The Painkiller, Espresso Rumtini, and the Tranquilizer. Spicy Water rum is found in various restaurants and stores throughout Massachusetts.
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GlenPharmer Distillery
GlenPharmer Distillery owned by Patrick and Beth Downing in Franklin launched in 2018. The restored venue is set in a historic textile mill built in 1883 where they make a range of hand-crafted spirits including rum. Dark Tide Rum is barrel-rested and distilled from molasses. The rum is named after the 1919 molasses flood in Boston’s North End, which killed 21 people and injured 150. The distillery uses a combination of pot and column stills to distill their spirits and the rum is aged in oak barrels. GlenPharmer Reserve Spiced Rum: An 80-proof rum distilled from molasses and nine spices
Today, the mill has a working distillery but also serves as a stunning wedding venue, blending old-world charm with modern craftsmanship. You can discover more on their tours and taste the rum at their tasting room & full-service restaurant.
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Liberty Tree Distillers
Established in 2013 in Medfield, Liberty Tree Distillers makes Liberty Tree Boston Rum, with a nod to the region’s historical rum production. Named after Boston colonists, Sons of Liberty, defiance against the British Stamp Act. Their recipe starts with a unique blend of molasses and brown sugar, aiming to capture the essence of 18th-century New England rums.
Following fermentation, the rum is distilled using traditional methods and a custom-engineered copper still by Vendome Copper and Brass Works. They also use high-grade American-made stainless-steel fermenters and then aged for a minimum of two years. This ageing process takes place in a combination of new American oak and used bourbon barrels, infusing the rum with complex flavours. Liberty Tree Distillers plans to open for tours soon and were the owners of Cape & Islands Distillers which closed recently.
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Greater Boston
This coastal region covers Massachusetts Bay, Boston Harbor, and several cities and towns around Boston. The landscape ranges from urban areas to coastal beaches with a humid continental climate. Notable natural features include the Boston Harbor Islands, Charles River Esplanade, Blue Hills Reservation and a vibrant rum scene to explore.
Boston Harbor Distillery
Founded by Rhonda Kallman in 2012, the distillery is set in the restored historic George Lawley & Sons shipyard where America’s Cup-winning yachts were built. Boston Harbor Distillery brings a taste of local history to the world of rum with their Lawley’s Light and Dark Rum, crafted with meticulous care in small batches. Distilled from 100% molasses and pure water from the Quabbin Reservoir, this rum is made using a traditional Vendome copper pot still. The distillery’s unique process includes adding wood staves and pieces to the unaged rum, where it rests for approximately 8 weeks. This technique creates a rich profile, with layers of vanilla, caramel, oak, and a touch of rye spice, resulting in a smooth, silky finish.
At the Port on Boston Harbor, visitors can experience their craftsmanship firsthand with tasting tours and cocktails every Saturday from 3-8pm in their destination cocktail bar. The distillery offers a unique opportunity to sample their rum while learning about the distillation process and the history behind their spirits. Whether you’re a seasoned rum enthusiast or just starting your journey, the tasting experience will be educational and enjoyable. They host live music, and private events.
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Bully Boy Distillers
Bully Boy Distillers, founded in 2010 by brothers Will and Dave Willis is Boston’s first craft distillery since Prohibition. Inspired by their family farm’s prohibition-era spirits recipes, the brothers set out to create premium, small-batch spirits with a focus on quality and authenticity. Named after their grandfather’s beloved workhorse, “Bully Boy,” the distillery has become known for its diverse line-up of spirits, including whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, and liqueurs. With a dedication to local ingredients, sustainable practices, and innovative offerings, Bully Boy has grown into a cornerstone of Boston’s craft spirits community.
Bully Boy currently has 5 rum offerings. A white rum made in the Boston tradition with 100% blackstrap molasses, an aged version of that rum finished in whiskey casks and 3 rum blends from a series called The Rum Cooperative. Most recently Bully Boy made a limited release of their Boston Rum at navy proof and finished in a Port barrel. At their distillery, guests can tour the facility, see where the rum is made and aged and sample all of the spirits either individually, on a flight or a distillery tour.
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GrandTen Distilling
Established in 2012, GrandTen Distilling brings a modern twist to rum-making in Boston. Their flagship product, Medford Rum launched in 2013, pays homage to an heirloom rum made in the bygone ways of old New England colonial rum. The rum is made with pure blackstrap molasses and a blend of wild New England yeast. After fermentation it is distilled in an all-copper, small-batch still. The resulting spirit is matured in charred American white oak barrels, lending the rum a mild bourbon-like character.
GrandTen Distilling makes New Medford Overproof Rum which is a white rum fermented and distilled from a combination of blackstrap molasses and sugarcane juice. This undergoes open-air fermentation and is bottled at a robust 50% or 100 proof. Their Chapter 3 Bourbon whiskey ages in American White Oak barrels and finished in Medford Rum casks if you like crossovers.
Medford Rum remains a testament to their commitment to remembering Boston’s rum legacy. Contact to schedule a tour and visit the GrandTen bar open Thursdays to Sundays where you can experience their Medford Rum neat, or in cocktails. They host weekly events and Derby Day is a big deal if you’re in the area.
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Short Path Distillery
The story begins at a monthly ‘Scotch Night’ gathering, where friends dream of creating their own whiskey using local ingredients hatched. This hobby evolved into a business, and Short Path Distillery was founded in Everett, MA, in 2015. They opened with 2 signature spirits: an American-style gin and a bold white rum. Since then, they have crafted over 60 spirits committed to quality and community.
Their ethos: organic ingredients make high-quality spirits. All spirits are made in small batches on traditional direct-fired copper pot stills imparting unique flavours for an old-world vibe. Before the pandemic, the rum line-up included white, gold, and hibiscus rums. The pandemic shifted their focus, discontinuing white and gold in favour of Hibiscus Rum.
Short Path Hibiscus Rum is fermented in-house using organic blackstrap molasses, its nutrients yield a more flavourful rum and the 900-gallon ferment takes a week. The Hibiscus Rum goes through a stripping run, spirits run, and then lemon peel soaks for 1 week before redistilling. It’s proofed with hibiscus tea (made from hibiscus flower) to 30%. Short Path cocktail bar is open 5 days/week for cocktails and tasting flights. Saturdays feature free tours with 3 spirit samples. The Hibiscus Rum can be found at restaurants and stores throughout the state.
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Deacon Giles Distillery
Deacon Giles Distillery was founded in 2015, by two industry veterans looking to revive the art of distilling in historic Salem, MA. Their rums are 100% molasses-based, a nod to traditional rums once produced in Salem during the heyday of sailing, trade, and New England-made spirits. However, their distillation process is a bit more modern (and perhaps irreverent) using a hybrid still with a 4-plate whisky column during the final spirit rum to produce a clean, flavourful, and smooth spirit. A portion of the rum is aged in American oak barrels, using a solera method, for a minimum of 18 months. The rum products include a white rum, an amber (aged) rum, and a spiced rum made using spices that would have arrived in Salem via tall ship during the peak of the spice trade (chocolate, Tahitian vanilla, sweet orange peel, and long pepper). Both the white and amber rums have received medals at spirits competitions.
Deacon Giles plans to release an aged rum finished in barrels that previously held their own rye whisky. Which is likely to be released in late spring/early summer 2025. For visitors, they feature a full, on-site cocktail bar, called The Speakeasy Lab, where you can experience the laboratory approach to crafting classic and unique cocktails around their spirits.
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Rumson’s Rum
Rumson’s Rum started in 2011 with research and experiments and launched on December 5th 2014. The initial plan was to distill onsite but the desire to provide high-quality sipping rum favoured sourcing and blending Caribbean rum primarily from Central and South America and the West Indies. All of Rumson’s Rums are molasses-based and aged in used whiskey barrels. The Rums are sourced by hand and shipped to the Rumson’s Rum house in Salem. The rums are then hand-blended, proofed and bottled in small batches.
Rumson’s Spiced Rum and Rumson’s Coffee Rum are flavoured rums with all-natural flavourings and are produced in Salem with a Caribbean rum base. Rumson’s is New England’s most-awarded rum brand with over 70+ awards.
They are raising capital with plans to expand production and more flavours and barrel opportunities. They plan to build a Solera ageing rack house on site. There are no official tours or on-site tastings, but if you contact them and are around, they show you around. While no official tours or tastings are offered, contacting them directly may result in a show around if they are available. Locally people can find Rumson’s at Salem’s Retreat, Gulu Gulu Café, the Landing Restaurante, and G-Bar.
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FreyJay Distillery
The craft distillery in Beverly is moving along the coast to Gloucester on Cape Ann and looking to open early 2025. FreyJay Distillery is the owner of the Old Ipswich Tavern Rum which is a recreation of the New England rums of yesteryear. The brand started out in Ipswich as Turkey Shore Distilleries in 2010, named after an old distillery on Turkey Shore Road that the founder grew up on. The micro-distillery formed by two childhood friends has now changed to FreyJay Distillery and presents a range of rums including; Old Ipswich White Cap Rum, Golden Marsh Spiced Rum, and Old Ipswich Greenhead Spiced Rum. It’s molasses-distilled rum aged in oak barrels, made in small batches and can be found locally.
Cape Cod & Islands
Nantucket is best known for its sandy beaches and fresh seafood. The island’s iconic beaches, dunes, and coastal marshes enjoy a maritime climate. Explore the Cape Cod National Seashore, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket islands, and numerous lighthouses. And, do watch out for the Shark Bite cocktails.
Dirty Water Distillery
Founded in 2013, Dirty Water Distillery is a Plymouth-based innovator in the rum world. They make a range of spirits including rum. The rum is made with table-grade molasses – the same as used in baking – for its clean flavour. This molasses is then meticulously distilled in small-batch copper pot stills, yielding a pure and flavourful spirit. Their core 2 expressions include What Knot Rum, a smooth and easy-sipping white rum perfect for cocktails, and Better Knot Rum, an aged expression with 66% aged in new oak and 33% in used bourbon barrels, adding complexity and depth.
You can try the rum in their taproom. They mix signature cocktails in kegs and hook them up to the tap lines for a brewery-style experience. It’s a family-friendly, dog-friendly space to hang out and they even host a run club if you’re feeling fit.
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Nomans
Located in Oak Bluffs on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, Nomans Rum was established in 2019 and honours the region’s rum-running history. Their namesake, Nomans Land, is a nearby island that was a haven for smugglers during Prohibition. Drawing inspiration from this past, Nomans Rum is a range of spirits, including their flagship Nomans White Rum, a barrel-aged, charcoal-filtered 3-year rum. Their signature expression, Nomans Dark, is a blend of 8 and 13-year-old rums, aged naturally without sugar in white oak casks, imparting subtle nuances of oak character.
Nomans mission is to release premium spirits while preserving the exciting tradition of supplying authentic rum, much like the rum runners of old. You can experience their rums at the Nomans Rum Hut, a unique space that seats 10 people and offers plenty of room for additional guests.
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Triple Eight Distillery
Founded in 1997, Triple Eight Distillery is Nantucket’s oldest operating distillery in recent times. 10 minutes from the island’s ferry terminal, Triple Eight is named after the distillery’s water source. It’s part of the Cisco Brewers family, operating alongside Nantucket Vineyard owned by Dean and Melissa Long. They have a passion for crafting high-quality whiskey, American Single Malt Whisky and rums using traditional methods. Triple Eight sources molasses, a key ingredient in rum production, for its rich flavour profile. Distilled in custom-made copper pot stills, this artisanal approach yields a nuanced and complex spirit. Best known for Triple Eight Hurricane Rum, this is a blended rum made on Nantucket from a blend of locally distilled rum and rums sourced from Central America and the Caribbean.
They never use rum younger than 4 years old, typically blending barrels ranging from 4 to 12 years old. Every batch uses an average of 10 barrels carefully selected by their team. Triple Eight releases rum in their storm series limited-edition expressions. While no tours or tastings are offered at the distillery, visitors can enjoy their rum at Cisco Brewery next door with its bar, music, and food trucks. You can also find it at various bars and restaurants throughout Nantucket town.
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Privateer Rum Distillery
Founded in 2011 by Andrew Cabot in Ipswich the brand draws inspiration from the region’s rich rum-making history. Cabot, a descendant of famed New England shipping magnates, sought to revive the tradition of producing high-quality American rum. The rum is made with molasses sourced from sugarcane grown in a single valley in Guatemala. Privateer has a two-stage distillation process; first, the fermented molasses wash is distilled in a traditional copper pot still, capturing the nuanced flavours and aromas. This “hearts cut” is then further refined in a column still. Privateer’s range includes Privateer New England White Rum distilled twice and bottled unaged. New England Reserve Rum has aged a minimum of 2 years.
Navy Yard Barrel Proof is aged in used American oak bourbon barrels. Privateer’s Queen’s Share 4 year is made using the traditional Cognac technique of redistilling the seconds – the transitional distillate between the rich hearts and bitter tails. Privateer Bottled in Bond is another aged expression. Privateer Rum is expanding production of New England-style rum that’s aged for at least 4 years. Visit the tasting room venue experience for a tour, tasting, or event. The unique space features the Privateer owner’s former 1930s racing sailboat hull transformed into a bar (pictured above).
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South Hollow Spirits
Truro Vineyards Distillery, founded in 2012 in North Truro, was the first legal distillery on Cape Cod since Prohibition. Its inaugural spirit was Twenty Boat Spiced Rum. The distillery uses a 250-gallon copper pot still (made by Vendome in Kentucky) to distill all their rum from organic sugarcane and molasses from Northern Florida and Louisiana. The distillery’s spiced rum is notable for its use of all-natural and whole ingredients. The spices used are a blend of cinnamon sticks, vanilla bean, orange and lemon peel, cardamom pods, chai tea, nutmeg, allspice, and rose hip. These spices are blended and steeped in the rum for approximately 3 weeks, creating a unique tea-like infusion.
In addition to the spiced rum, there’s a white rum and an amber rum, aged for 3 years in chardonnay barrels retired from the winery. The distillery’s most recent release is a 5-year aged spiced rum, a richer and deeper flavour profile achieved by extended barrel ageing.
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, there are free tours at 11am Monday through Friday, providing visitors with a glimpse into their spirit-making process. Guests can also enjoy spirit tastings featuring the distillery’s full line of rums, as well as expertly crafted cocktails.
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Where to Enjoy Rum in Massachusetts
Boston: Shore Leave (pictured), Tiki Rock, 21st Amendment, Birds of Paradise, Roxanne’s, Doña Habana, Daiquiris and Daisies, Citrus & Salt Boston
Cambridge: Wusong Tiki Bar
Dedham: Tahiti Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge
Gloucester: The Rhumb Line Bar & Restaurant
Ipswich: Ipswich Tavern
Plymouth: The Blue-Eyed Crab Caribbean Grill & Rum Bar
Salem: Salem’s Retreat, Gulu-Gulu Cafe
Waltham: Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar
Woburn: The Baldwin Bar
Massachusetts’s favourite cocktail is Painkiller made with dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cream of coconut. The Cape Codder is another local favourite. Many distilleries have seasonal opening hours, so check the winter hours if planning an off-season trip. To learn more about the local rum heritage you can visit the Medford Historical Society & Museum and the Massachusetts Historical Society. Boston is a good starting point for a rum road trip, use our map to plan your adventure.
For more general travel advice on Massachusetts Tourism
For travel planning use our Massachusetts Rum Map
Special thanks to the brands for contributing to this article and permission to use their images. Other image credits go to Canva Pro and user contributions.
