Rum in The Garden State
From the shores of South Jersey to the outskirts of NYC, New Jersey’s distilling heritage stretches back to the 1600s, and today, The Garden State is home to a thriving rum scene. The Garden State name comes from the 1800s promoting farmland to prospective farmers. New Jersey has a lot of geography packed into its relatively small area as the 5th smallest state. From the rugged Appalachian Mountains in the northwest to the sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast, the state’s shape is roughly rectangular with a distinctive jut-out at the southern tip – formed by the Cape May peninsula. New Jersey enjoys a humid subtropical climate in the south and a humid continental climate in the north.
New Jersey has a long history of making rum that dates back to the colonial era. During this time, large landowners made rum from imported molasses. Molasses was traded in NJ, and accounts show farms paid in molasses and rum by the 1700s—Princeton University Library records.
In the Prohibition era, New Jersey was a hub for running and bootlegging. In 2013, New Jersey passed a law that allowed craft distillery licenses. In 2024, state laws eased restrictions that stifled distilleries for decades where distilleries no longer need to offer tours. They can now sell snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, partner with food trucks, host events and increase barrel storage and direct sales. This road trip across New Jersey is from north to south, to discover the hidden gems and passionate New Jersey rum makers.
Appalachian Ridge and Valley
The rugged beauty of the Kittatinny Mountains is where the Delaware River carves a dramatic path through the Delaware Water Gap. Explore scenic trails, cascading waterfalls, and breathtaking vistas from High Point, the state’s highest peak.
Milk Street Distillery
Founded in Branchville in 2015 by brothers Mike and Gordon Geerhart. Sussex County’s first distillery since the end of prohibition. The distillery opened in 2017. Close to Stokes State Forest, they transformed a 125-year-old industrial building into a distillery and tasting room. Craft spirits Vodka, rum, rye, whiskey, and gin. Wooden Leg Rum is made with evaporated cane juice and rich brown molasses which uses a column still and carbon filtration to make a silver rum, they also have a 5-year-old version of it that is only for sale at the distillery. You can visit the distillery to enjoy Wooden Leg Rum one of their delicious cocktails, or it can be purchased at various liquor stores around the state.
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Northwest NJ
This landscape has rolling hills, tranquil lakes, and dense forests. Hike through picturesque trails, discover hidden waterfalls, and enjoy panoramic views from atop rocky ridges, like Eagle Rock Reservation overlooking NYC (pictured).
Jersey Artisan Distilling
In Fairfield, northwest of Newark, Jersey Artisan launched in 2013 as the first state distillery to open since Prohibition. Founded by Krista Haley and Brant Braue, it was acquired by Steven Vanechanos the current owner in 2018. Their core expressions are Busted Barrel Silver Rum and Busted Barrel Dark Rum. The Silver rum is made from Louisiana molasses, distilled in custom copper stills, and carbon-filtered. Busted Barrel Dark Rum matures in American white oak barrels, offering vanilla, caramel, and oaky notes reminiscent of fine American whiskeys.
Busted Barrel Rum is available in stores, bars, and restaurants throughout New Jersey. They now host tours where you can sample the rum, and even let you buy a few bottles directly from the source. Tours and tastings are on the second Saturday of the month and are bookable online. Bottling Nights at the distillery is a chance to see a fresh batch of Busted Barrel Rum up close.
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Jersey Spirits Distilling Co.
Founded in Fairfield, NJ in in 2013 and operational since 2015, the distillery produces Boardwalk Rum. Boardwalk Rum is distilled the equivalent of 6 times for a smooth spirit and extract at above 160 proof. Boardwalk Light Amber Rum is aged in both 5-gallon and 10-gallon barrels to develop a fine-sipping rum.
This small-batch distillery produces a wide range of grain-to-glass spirits. All stages of production, from mashing and fermenting to distilling on custom stills, ageing, blending, and bottling, are done on-site. They source ingredients locally from NJ, NY, and PA farms, although the molasses is sourced elsewhere.
The commitment to New Jersey is reflected in their spirit names which honour state locations and experiences with labels designed by a local artist. Their tasting room offers tours, tastings, craft cocktails, and bottle sales. The tasting room features reclaimed materials from New Jersey barns and structures.
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Silk City Distillers
Established in Clifton in 2014, produces Silk City White Rum and Dark Rum. The distillery is owned and operated by three lifelong friends and NJ natives. They are a craft farm-to-bottle distillery and make gin, vodka, bourbon, and rum. The distillery uses a custom-designed 1,000-liter still. All products are barrelled, bottled, and labelled in-house. They operate a production distillery with an on-site tasting room and cocktail bar. The bar is open, and reservations are recommended, although walk-ins are accommodated.
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Piedmont
Known for its rolling hills, fertile valleys, and vibrant cities. This region includes the Gettysburg Piedmont Lowland and Newark subsections. It’s part of the Piedmont region, a geographical area stretching from New Jersey to Alabama. The Passaic River Falls are a popular attraction among the scenic parks lining the Passaic and Raritan Rivers.
All Points West Distillery
In the Ironbound neighbourhood in Newark and only 6 miles from America’s first distillery, the distillery was founded in 2017 by Gil Spaier, a former architect and building renovator. They produce Kill Van Kull Single Pot Still Rum. The rum is named after the waterway between Newark and New York bays. The distillery aims to recreate the flavour profile of early rums made in the area. Starting in 1664, the rum distilled on Kill Van Kull used an early type of molasses made before the invention of industrial centrifuges. This molasses had more sugar, and more plant matter ‘scummings’, resulting in more flavour. As sugar-making techniques grew more industrial the available molasses decreased in quality.
All Points West Kill Van Kull Single Pot Still Rum recreates richer molasses and makes the most flavourful rum distilled in the Mid-Atlantic today. Distilled from original fermentation and aged under one roof in Newark. Distillery tours, tastings and Saturday events are by appointment only. Join the tour to explore the history and taste their rum.
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Skunktown Distillery
In Flemington’s Stangl Arts District, Skunktown was established in 2016 and has been under new ownership since 2022. The distillery embraces local, non-GMO ingredients and sources well water from Sergeantsville, honouring the area’s “Skunktown” nickname. Distilled in copper stills, their rum reflects a commitment to quality and craftsmanship.
Beyond rum, Skunktown makes a range of vodka, whiskey, and Apple Pie Moonshine under the stewardship of head distiller Ryan. The distillery, led by owner Russ Hoffman hosts events like trivia nights, karaoke, and live music, making it a community hub. Open Tuesday through Sunday, Skunktown Distillery offers a unique tasting experience where you can try a locally made rum.
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North Jersey Shore
Rolling hills give way to sandy shores along the North Jersey Shore, where towns like Colts Neck, Belford, and Long Branch have a blend of inland beauty of horse farms, vineyards, golf courses and coastal attractions.
Colts Neck Stillhouse
Established in 2017 as New Jersey’s first full-service farm distillery in Colts Neck, in Monmouth County. Founder Geoff Karch, inspired by his grandfather’s exclamation of “Holy MuckleyEye!” (meaning a moment of discovery and joy), aims to create a memorable, pre-prohibition era experience. The distillery uses a 250-gallon pot still, similar to those used 100 years ago, to craft artisanal spirits, including bourbon, rum, various gins, vodka, and flavoured moonshines. MuckleyEYE East Coast White Rum is made from Caribbean Molasses and fermented 10 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. They focus on small-batch, handmade products with distinctive flavours.
The StillHouse has a hyper-local philosophy, serving the community with quality spirits. Visitors can enjoy tours, tastings, and the cocktail parlour, and buy bottles on-site. They have brews, and indoor and outdoor seating if you are in the area and enjoy a well-made cocktail it’s a must-visit.
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Railroad Distillery
In Belford at Sandy Hook Bay, the Railroad distillery started in 2014 by Joe and Danielle Cox was a dream come true. Railroad rum is a small batch spirit, made distilled and bottled locally in New Jersey. Each batch is made 100 gallons at a time, an unaged white rum using molasses and pure cane sugar. Made from natural flavours, the rum is produced exclusively in custom-built copper stills. Railroad Cucumber Rum is a flavoured rum. Their unique recipe then flavours with cucumber, black cherry, pineapple and coconut. The latest product is Railroad Distillery’s Firehouse Cinnamon Flavored Rum.
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Central Jersey
In the heart of New Jersey, Princeton, Columbus, and Mt. Holly offer a blend of history, agriculture, and natural beauty. Visitors can explore historic landmarks, delve into the region’s rich agricultural past, and enjoy nearby parks and trails, including the scenic Rancocas Creek.
Recklesstown Farm Distillery
Founded in Columbus in 2016, Recklesstown Farm Distillery is led by head distiller Ben Donia, formerly of Cooper River Distillers (which closed in 2018). Recklesstown acquired Cooper River’s aged barrels and shares their commitment to crafting spirits from New Jersey ingredients. Their product line includes gin, vodka, moonshine, and whiskey, as well as Lonely Tractor Spiced Rum. This rum, distilled from molasses and infused with a proprietary blend of spices and charred cherry wood, offers a spicy, not-too-sweet profile. Visit their tasting room (reservations recommended) to try the rum in an Island Getaway cocktail and enjoy their regular events.
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Train Wreck Distillery
In Mount Holly, you’ll find Train Wreck distillery within the historic Mount Holly train station. Founded in 2016, they produce Train Wreck Rum, a Caribbean-style rum distilled from premium molasses. Train Wreck Gold Rum, also Caribbean-style, is aged in ex-whiskey barrels for 1-2 years, adding complexity to its flavour. The tasting room is the heart of the distillery, where you can savour their spirits in signature cocktails, sampler flights or simply sip neat. Join a guided tasting to learn about the distillation process, take a tour of the distillery, and explore a rum local to Mount Holly.
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Pinelands
Including towns like Woodbury, Monroeville, and Hammonton, the Pinelands have a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. This vast area of over a million acres includes farms, pine forests, wetlands, historic towns, and a rich agricultural tradition.
Striped Lion Distilling
Located in Woodbury, in southern New Jersey, Striped Lion Distilling has been a small-batch, rum-focused craft distillery since 2017. Named after founders Kevin and Erin Wright, and inspired by their first date at the Philadelphia Zoo, the distillery shares its name with the couple’s shared love of big cats. Their mission is to share their passion for rum. Striped Lion’s core offerings begin with their Signature Rum, a pure single rum fermented from organic American molasses and 100% pot-distilled. This rum forms the base for their flavoured rums: the Citrus Rum, vapour-distilled through citrus peels, and the Cocoa Rum, vapour-distilled through organic cocoa nibs—both have natural flavours. For those seeking higher proof, the Overproof Rum is bottled at 60% ABV. Connoisseurs can also explore limited releases finished in Cognac, Wine, or Amburana casks, available exclusively at the distillery. Visit the distillery for tours and cocktails on Saturdays and Sundays, or stop by the shop on Thursdays for cocktail pickup.
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Pine Tavern Distillery
Pine Tavern Distillery was founded in 2015 as a small family-owned and operated Craft Distillery. We are New Jersey’s first farm distillery and Salem County’s First Distillery since Prohibition. Muddy Run Jersey Style Rum was the second spirit they started producing almost 10 years ago. It is a blackstrap molasses-based rum pot distilled onsite in a 100-gallon hybrid still. They have since grown the rum offerings to include the following; Muddy Run Maple Cask Reserve Rum, a white rum base aged in a used Bourbon/maple syrup barrel. Battleship New Jersey Honey Flavored Rum- their white rum-based blended with local raw honey. A portion of every bottle sold is donated back to the Battleship New Jersey Docked in Camden NJ. NJ Farm Fresh Blueberry flavored Rum is their white rum blended with fresh blueberry juice made from Blueberries grown right here in South Jersey.
Experience the charm of this family-owned distillery on their 23-acre farm, where they offer tours, tastings, and cocktails. Open Thursdays and Fridays 6-10pm, and Saturdays 1-7pm, the distillery features a beautiful barn and plenty of seating outside for events. You’ll their rums at fine establishments across South Jersey.
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Blue Rascal Distillery
In Hammonton, the heart of blueberry country, a new craft distillery opened its doors in 2021. They started small, specialising in a blueberry brandy, then releasing vodka, rye whisky and rum. Blue Rascal Rum is made from molasses for a rich, well-rounded and full taste. Blue Rascal Barrel Honey Flavored Rum uses Blackstrap molasses, sweetened with a touch of local honey, aged in new char #3 American oak barrels. The delightful tasting room is where you can experience their spirits, liqueurs cocktails and reservations are recommended.
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South Jersey Shore
Home to iconic vacation destinations like Cape May and Atlantic City, offering miles of sandy beaches and lively boardwalks. Just a short distance away, the Delaware Bay Area provides a serene natural escape, with salt marshes, tidal creeks, and pristine beaches teeming with wildlife. The Cape May peninsula, a renowned birdwatching destination, marks the gateway to the Atlantic Ocean.
Little Water Distillery
In Atlantic City, this craft distillery opened in 2016. Liberty Rum is inspired by the rums that fuelled early America; Liberty Rum is a silver rum fermented from a proprietary blend of golden-brown molasses; this results in a rum that partners well with classic rum cocktails.
Prosperity Rum is made in small batches and aged in premium charred American oak barrels. Prosperity is aimed at a Bourbon drinker’s rum. The distillery is open for tours, tastings and cocktails from Friday to Sunday. They host spirits tastings as well as hand-crafted cocktails with all the spirits including Liberty and Prosperity Rums. These are also available at their local bars and restaurants including Back Bay Ale House in the Inlet area of Atlantic City.
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Nauti Spirits Distillery
Nauti Spirits Distillery was founded in Cape May in 2013 by Steve and Caroline Miller. They produce a range of spirits including Nauti Spirits Rum. Their flagship rum, a light-gold spirit, is crafted for cocktails. Fermented, distilled, finished, and bottled at their farm distillery in Cape May, the rum is batch-distilled from high-grade American southern molasses. It’s then rested in second-use, 200-litre white oak barrels for 45 to 90 days. The resulting rum is described as a lively Garden State spirit ideal for classic rum drinks like Daiquiris.
There’s a large gift shop and the distillery tour takes you beyond the stills, a journey from farm to bottle. Try the rum on the tasting room cocktail menu made by the bartenders. With Food trucks outside, fire pits and tents with lots of seating – it’s a destination stop when in the area.
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Aside from the tasting rooms and bars already mentioned here are a few other places to enjoy rum in New Jersey.
Where to Enjoy Rum in New Jersey
Atlantic City: Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar
Brigantine: LaScala’s Beach Bar
Cape May: King Edward Bar, Rusty Nail
Clifton: Rumba Cubana
Guttenberg: Rumba Cubana, Guttenberg
Jersey City: Rumba Cubana, The Hamilton Inn, The Rum Bar, Cellar 335
Moonachie: La Havana 59
North Bergen: Rumba Cubana
Point Pleasant Beach: Martell’s Tiki Bar
Rochelle Park: Rumba Cubana
Sea Bright: The Rum Runner
Many resorts, golf resorts, and restaurants will stock local rum, now you know who makes what you can ask for the local New Jerseyite rum. In New Jersey, some craft distillery licenses don’t permit serving food, so you can bring your own or stop by a local restaurant nearby for lunch or dinner. Whatever you do, don’t leave New Jersey without trying one of their famous deli sandwiches. Many places are seasonal if visiting resorts and distilleries off-season check in advance. New Jersey is a fantastic road trip for rum lovers, whether you’re on a weekend getaway from the city or taking a week to explore the back roads, you’ll find a craft distillery serving up rum cocktails or hosting a tour.
For more general travel advice on New Jersey Tourism
For travel planning use our New Jersey Rum Map
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.