Pacific Northwest Rum: Oregon Edition
Oregon is celebrated for its craft beer and renowned wines, but a spirited revival is quietly unfolding along its Pacific Northwest coast: craft rum. While the climate favours grain spirits and potatoes from neighbouring Idaho, several Oregon craft distilleries make interesting rums.
Shaped by the north-south sweep of the Cascade Mountains, the Beaver State, Oregon, presents a stunning array of landscapes: the verdant Willamette Valley, the wild Pacific coastline, the urban vibrancy of the Portland Metro Region, and the vast Columbia Plateau, where Hells Canyon carves its dramatic path.
Oregon’s history blends pioneer spirit and agricultural abundance. Settlers came for gold but found lumber and railroads. While breweries began in the 1850s and winemaking in the 20th century, distilling has its roots in the distilling traditions of settlers. The state’s oldest distillery, founded in 1934, post-Prohibition. During the 1920s, ‘floating islands’ of Canadian liquor anchored off the coast, a symbol of Oregon’s rebellious spirit. This resourcefulness shaped Oregon’s distilling, laying the groundwork for today’s craft rum revival. Interestingly, Oregon pine has found its way into whisky and rum distilleries the world over, used in fermentation washbacks.
In modern times, Oregon has become a top craft distilling state because of favourable state laws. Oregon’s generations-long beer tradition made the transition to whiskey a natural progression. Rum, however, requires sourcing sugarcane, demonstrating a true dedication to the spirit. As Oregon’s rum scene evolves, we’ve created this insider’s guide with insights from the producers themselves. Join us as we travel from the east, winding through the Willamette Valley, to discover the hidden gems of Oregon’s local rum.
Eastern Oregon
Often considered the last part of the Wild West, east of the Cascade Range is known for its arid climate, desert landscapes, and mountain ranges, The Blue Mountains are forested with Ponderosa Pines, Ghost towns, rivers and lakes for water sports in Umatilla National Forest and local rum producers nearby provide unique rum experience.
Oregon Grain Growers Brand Distillery
Oregon Grain Growers Distillers is family-owned and has been operating in Pendleton, Oregon, since 2016, marking the first distillery in the city since Prohibition. The distillery has a passion for making rum, specifically their Deadman Pass Rum. The distillery’s founders meticulously researched sugarcane varieties, ultimately selecting Raw Panela sugar from Bogota, Colombia. This sugar is mixed with hot water to create a sugar wash, which is then fermented using a special yeast strain designed to preserve the Panela’s character. The fermentation process is conducted at high temperatures, mimicking the Caribbean climate. Distillation occurs in a pot still, with the rum spirit collected at approximately 150 proof. This allows for the creation of various rum expressions: 80-proof Silver Rum, 125-proof spirit for barrel ageing (used for Aged, Spiced, and Dark rums), and 133-proof Overproof Rum.
The Deadman Pass Silver Rum is a base for cocktails, while the Overproof Rum, inspired by historical shipping practices, caters to Tiki drinks. The use of raw Panela sugar imparts a sweet aroma with hints of banana and vanilla. Aged and Dark Rums wait in the barrel, and the silver rum is used to create their tiki-inspired cocktails. You can try these on their own, but burger aficionados will be interested try an Addicted to Painkillers with the Big Kahuna Burger, a large burger patty from local Hines Meat Co. and a local Rollingstone Bakery bun.
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Stein Distillery
The small, family-run distillery in Joseph, Oregon, is at the foot of the Wallowa Mountains and surrounded by some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Pacific Northwest. They’ve been distilling here since 2009. Founder and master distiller Dan Stein built it from the ground up. His passion for distilling started as a hobby with family recipes passed down for generations. Everything is distilled on a custom-built hybrid still from Arnold Holstein in Germany. The pot still with two columns gives control over distillation. The primary focus has always been whiskey, but they also make rum. Instead of molasses, it’s distilled from brown sugar, running the hearts at 160 proof to preserve its natural sweetness while keeping it bold and complex. Rattle Creek Rum is aged for a minimum of 4 years in its own whiskey barrels, allowing the rum to soak up the whiskey character.
The latest release is Rattle Creek Rum, bottled straight from single barrels, so every release is unique. The next batch is summer 2025, which is a 4-year rum, aged in a bourbon barrel, or an 8-year rum, aged in a rye whiskey barrel. No two releases are the same. In Joseph, you can visit the tasting room where there are 16 spirits, fresh mini-cocktails made by their bartenders, tours, events, and a bottle shop. Their rum is also available at good establishments like Wallowa Lake Lodge.
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Portland Metro Region
In the Willamette Valley, where the Willamette and Columbia Rivers converge, forested hills and riverfront vistas define the region, framed by the Cascade and Coast Ranges. Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Gresham anchor the area. The Columbia River Gorge offers hikes and waterfalls, while Mount Hood stands as a beacon, with Forest Park below. While Portland is known for craft beer and whiskey, there is rum to be explored here.
Eastside Distilling
Founded in 2008 in Portland, Oregon, started as a small rum importer on Portland’s Distillery Row. At the time, American craft distilling was still in its early stages, but it’s since grown into a regional powerhouse and is the first publicly traded craft distillery in the US. They made a range of Below Deck Rums with Below Deck Silver Rum, a pot distilled and base for the others like Below Deck Small Batch Spiced Rum. Eastside Barrel Aged Rum is an 11-year-old barrel-aged rum. HueHue Coffee Rum is flavoured with fair-trade, single-origin coffee from the Finca El Paternal Estate in Huehuetenango, Guatemala and made in small batches at their distillery. Although they started with rum, the success of their other spirits has taken off, and HueHue Coffee Rum appears to be the only continuation of rum. There’s no visitor experience, but you’ll find their spirits, including HueHue Coffee Rum, available locally.
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New Deal Distillery
Since 2004, New Deal has craft-distilled spirits and rum in Portland’s Central Eastside. Two core rums, plus special releases under the Distiller’s Workshop label, feature rum aged in experimental barrels. All rums are made in-house, fermented, and double-pot distilled on a CARL still. Distiller’s Cut Rum is unaged, co-fermented from molasses and Central American panela, blending molasses warmth. Distiller’s Workshop Spiced Rum blends Distiller’s Cut and American Oak-aged rum, infused with spices, orange peel, and vanilla. Distiller’s Workshop Amber Rum 10 years and Bottled in Bond is a new release made from panela and aged 10+ years in new American oak. There’s a lovely story behind this rum: a forgotten barrel, later found during an audit, became a wonderful surprise of concentrated ester profile with butterscotch and browned butter. It’s presented at 100 proof in a 375 ml bottle. The distillery tasting room, open 12-6pm daily, offers flights, mini-cocktails, and bottle sales. Happy Hour and tours are bookable on their site, and shipping is available to most US states. Birrias Tamazula in Gresham features New Deal rum cocktails with Jalisco-style birria and is their recommendation for a tasty rum experience.
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House Spirits Distillery
In Portland, Oregon, House Spirits was founded in Corvallis in 2004 by Christian Krogstad and moved to Portland in 2005. Thomas Mooney is the CEO and co-owner. Located on Portland’s Distillery Row in the Central Eastside Industrial District, the distillery is a leader in Portland’s maker community. House Spirits is known for Westward malt whiskey, Volstead Vodka, Krogstad Aquavit, and experimental distillery exclusives. Notably, they launched Aviation Gin in 2006 with bartender Ryan Magarian. Their Casa Magdalena Rum is a collaborative effort with Ingenio Magdalena, the largest sugar producer in Central America and was introduced in 2018. Made from sugarcane that is seeded, planted, harvested, and distilled by the Leal family in Guatemala. Casa Magdalena Blanco Rum is distilled in Guatemala and aged and bottled in Portland for 6 to 12 months. Thomas Mooney’s connection to Guatemala, where he was born, led to this partnership with Luis Fernando Leal. House Spirits has a visitor experience, including tours where you can learn about the craft of distilling and a tasting room where you can see and taste the range.
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McMenamins Edgefield Distillery
McMenamins Edgefield Distillery, established in 1998, is located on the grounds of the historic Edgefield property, a former poor farm in Troutdale, Oregon. Housed in a converted potato shed, it is one of two distilleries owned by McMenamins. The distillery produces Three Rocks Rum, which is made from a molasses-rich sugar fermented and double-distilled at Edgefield Distillery. Three Rocks is a blend of rums aged 2 years in their own Hogshead Whiskey and port barrels. Three Rocks Spiced Rum is a new, updated recipe and a variation on the Three Rocks Rum. The name is inspired by centuries of strange legends and histories that have infused the Three Rocks area of the Oregon coast with magical intrigue. Tangy Edgefield estate-grown mulberries and a cosmic blend of spices (vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice) lend that same quality to their aged Three Rocks Rum. McMenamins Edgefield is a large entertainment complex featuring a hotel, multiple bars, restaurants, a brewery, a winery, a movie theatre, a golf course, and gardens. The distillery offers tours and tastings as part of the broader Edgefield visitor experience. The cozy woodstove Distillery Bar is a favourite gathering spot while in Edgefield, and you can pick up Three Rocks Rum at the on-site distillery shop.
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Just Rum Distillery
In Sandy, near the Jonsrud Viewpoint and en route to Mt Hood, Just Rum Distillery is a destination spot for rum lovers. The story began with John Hasbrouck inheriting a pot still from his great-uncle who made his own whiskey and discovered a love for rum on a trip to Ecuador. John and two friends then were inspired to make rum from pure cane and a legacy yeast. Just Rum is distilled in a single pot still and single pass, first as a 50-gallon still and currently, the primary still is 400 gallons. The range includes Simple White Shelf strength, white, pure cane rum, Uncle John’s Cut Still strength, uncut, pure cane rum and bottled at 61% abv. Maple Wood Rested is Just Rum rested on toasted Maple Wood. Oregon Oak Rested is Just Rum rested on toasted Oregon Oak and bottled at 51% abv. Seasonal Spiced is Just Rum and spices, a natural infusion with real spices and no sugar added. Blackberry is Just Rum and Blackberries soaked for 9 months, with no sugar added. In 2024, they released their first blend, a 5th-anniversary bottling. They run Distillation Classes, a single-day class teaching the history and distillation of rum. Participants are welcome to come in two Saturdays beforehand and help mix up the fermentation used for their class. Tasting Room hours are open daily, they have Tiki Tuesdays, a food menu, rum flights, and an array of rum cocktails at the bar to enjoy.
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Rose City Distilling
Rose City Distilling, established in 2012 in Portland, Oregon, is a distillery that proudly carries the city’s nickname in its name. The distillery focuses on craft spirits, producing whiskey and gin in small batches. Rose City Rum is produced with US Virgin Island rum produced in St. Croix, which is a molasses-based rum clear, unaged spirit ideal for mixing in cocktails. Visitors can experience the distillery through tasting room samplings and informative distillery tours and enjoy cocktails at their on-site bar. You can buy their products both on-site and in their online store.
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Trail Distilling
Established in 2015, this internationally award-winning certified farm distillery is located in Oregon City. Trail Distilling is the first distillery in the First City West of the Mississippi River. Using Cascadian glacial water and naturally harvested grains, they make a range of gins and rums and distill rye whiskey grown on their family farm in Oregon City. First City Rum is their signature rum, fermented and distilled from molasses to produce a Jamaican-style rum. They distill on a Kothe 2000 liter dual column and pot still in small-batch production. The resulting clear rum presents smoky esters, burnt sugars and toasted caramel. Currently, they are also working on a spiced rum, so stay tuned for that. The distillery has a welcoming tasting room with tasting flights, tours, and mixology classes, as well as cocktails where you can sample the range of spirits, including First City Rum. Trail Distilling is a prominent destination in Mt. Hood territory and welcomes you into the local community spirit as part of their visitor experience.
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Willamette Valley
Between the Coast Range and the Cascade Mountains lies Oregon’s heartland. The fertile valley carved by its namesake river is renowned for lush agriculture, producing hazelnuts, berries, hops, and wine grapes. Its mountain-moderated climate supports a thriving wine industry, particularly Pinot Noir, and a growing number of craft distilleries. These make excellent side trips while visiting the outdoor amphitheatres and other attractions.
Divine Distillers
Amidst wineries, craft breweries, and orchards, Divine Distillers, founded in 2018 by Jason Greenwood and Jennell Ives, was Salem’s first brandy distillery before moving to Independence, Oregon in 2021. The distillery focuses on small-batch spirits and has a goal to preserve and highlight the flavours of Oregon. They make a wide range of spirits, including brandy made from local fruits, agave spirits, and rums. In 2021, they also acquired 1859 Cider Co. and produced various rum expressions. Now known as Rum Paradiso, this rum, formerly Sangre Di Diablo (Devil’s Blood) Rum, is a blend of sugar cane and molasses, distilled using a custom-designed still and aged in French oak barrels. Rum Inferno is a clear mixing rum ideal for all silver rum drinks like daiquiris, mojitos, and pina coladas. The range extends to Rooibos Tea Aged Rum, Pandan Rum, Coffee Rum, Spiced Rum, and Habanero Rum. They also make ready-to-drink cocktails. Visitors can try all these variations at bookable tastings and tours online. Offering a complete experience, they host regular events, serve delicious food and drinks, and provide both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a dedicated tasting room. Their Inferno Restaurant has live fire cooking, and you can buy their rum on-site and online with Oregon shipping.
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Sinister Distilling – Deluxe Brewing
Sinister Distilling, located in Albany, OR, operates within the Deluxe Brewing and Sinister Distilling brewstillery, Albany’s first. Their distillery, housed in the Borden Building along the Willamette River, works in conjunction with Deluxe Brewing. Founded in 2011 by Eric “Howie” and Jamie Howard. The couple started the company with the help of friends, family, and the community. They use a traditional whisky pot still from Portugal to produce single-malt whiskey, rum, grappa, brandy and gin. Sinister Distilling produces Anchor Rose Barrel Aged Rum from locally sourced blackstrap molasses, distilled in small batches using a copper pot still and aged for over a year in bourbon whiskey barrels. Anchor Rose Pineapple Rum is a popular small-batch rum infused with real pineapple and brown sugar.
Visitors can experience the Deluxe Tasting Room with views of the production area. The tasting room features ten beers on tap from Deluxe Brewing, along with guest ciders, Sinister Distilling spirit cocktails, house-made ginger beer and sodas, wines and mocktails. As a destination, they host regular events, local bands, and classic car cruise-ins with vintage roadsters for car enthusiasts. The range is available throughout the mid-Willamette Valley.
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4 Spirits Distillery
4 Spirits Distillery is located in Adair Village, Oregon. Founded in 2011 by Dawson Officer, the distillery’s name reflects a commitment to craftsmanship and community. 4 Spirits produces rum using a 50/50 blend of molasses and sugar cane, distilled in pot stills. Their process emphasises a full-bodied sweetness. The core rum expressions include Silver Rum, Spiced Rum, and Dark Rum, aged for at least two years in new American oak barrels. The distillery offers visitor experiences, including tours and tastings. Full food and drink menus are available daily for dine-in or takeout, with newly expanded and covered outdoor areas. They host in-house events and special events throughout the state, and the annual Corvallis Spirits Festival is their big gathering every November. You can pick up their rum on-site and locally at good establishments.
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Thinking Tree Spirits – Heritage Distilling
Originally started in 2014, the craft distillery resides in the Whiteaker neighbourhood of Eugene. The name comes from the idea of gathering and contemplating under tall trees at the Oregon Country Fair. Thinking Tree Spirits was acquired by Heritage Distilling Company (HDC) in 2024, which has locations in Washington and Oregon. Thinking Tree tasting room and retail will now co-brand with Heritage Distilling tasting rooms. Thinking Tree’s backstory is women-led, farm-to-flask and Oregon-grown, specialising in vodka, rum, gin, and brandy. Their Whiteaker Rum and Whiteaker Solera Barrel Aged Rum are core expressions. The Whiteaker Rum is a traditional Colonial-style rum, aged in American oak barrels. It began with unsulphured molasses, fermented and distilled in copper pot stills, before ageing in former Kentucky bourbon barrels. As a traditional Caribbean solera method, the rum is filtered through a series of barrels, with the oldest blend exceeding 7 years.
You can enjoy the cozy tasting room or outside on a covered and heated patio. It’s a lively spot with live music on Fridays and weekend resident food trucks. The cocktail menu showcases their spirits. Notable rum cocktails include The Klein, Tonic Awakening and Whiteaker Solera Rum Old Fashioned. Visitors can also enjoy tasting flights of three spirits and pick up a bottle. As part of Heritage Distilling Company, they also have a location on Eugene 5th Street where you can enjoy their rum and Thinking Tree Spirits now ships to 34 states.
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Southern Oregon Coast
Along the rugged coastline, amidst dramatic shorelines, sprawling sand dunes, and the confluence of winding rivers, you’ll discover a temperate climate, significantly cooler and wetter than Oregon’s inland regions, creating an invigorating experience perfect for enjoying locally made rum.
Stillwagon Distillery
On the Oregon coast, Stillwagon Distillery, established in 2012 by Rick Stillwagon, founder and distiller, is located in an old, refurbished boatbuilders shop along the Oregon coast. Specializes in rum, alongside whiskey, gin, and vodka, now producing around 10 distinct rums and a lineup of 29 products. They start with blackstrap molasses and pure sugarcane sugar and a small batch distilling process, and the spirit cuts play an important role in rum making. Their white rums are The Devil’s Own Rum at 90 proof and The Devil’s Own Wicked Rum at 155 proof. These are made from the hearts of the rum and are designed for your favourite mixed drinks. The Wicked rum can be made into a “Wicked Mary,” a spicy Bloody Mary. The Devil’s Own Gold Rum and Cask Strength Gold Rum are aged in new, heavily charred, American White Oak barrels made by ISC in Kansas City, MO. The Devil’s Own Spiced Rum is made with pineapple, coconut, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and anise. These fruits and spices are infused into the overproof rum to make their own extracts. The Devil’s Own Black Spiced Rum has the same mix but a differing recipe of added gold rum and molasses. There are many more expressions from Mocha to The Devil’s Own Falernum, one for your next Corn ‘n Oil recipe. You can book a rum distillery tour by appointment and visit one of 3 tasting rooms in Bandon, Florence, and Reedsport. The Bandon tasting bar was built by the owner, inspired by a sea kraken.
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Central Oregon
Where the high desert meets the mountains, a playground for outdoor enthusiasts unfolds. From hiking and skiing to mountain biking, adventure awaits in this gateway to the volcanic crater lake. Beyond its well-known craft breweries, Bend, originally ‘Farewell Bend’ for pioneer river crossings, reveals a hidden gem: craft rum, capturing the rugged spirit of this unique landscape.
BackDrop Distilling
BackDrop Distilling is located in Bend, Oregon and was founded in 2014 by Mark Plants, a former sound engineer. They installed a steam-jacketed custom-made German copper still and brought in barrels, setting the stage for BackDrop to become the first distillery to be inside of a brewery in Oregon (Goodlife Brewing). The name is a tribute to creating his own BackDrop for himself and his family. They produce vodka, gin and rum. BackDrop Distilling is creating a blend of dark & light rum in Bend, Oregon. The rum is produced from a blend of Hawaiian sugar cane and Barbados molasses, then aged in bourbon barrels. This new rum release is currently in development. You can book a private tour and see how the BackDrop Distilling rum is being made first-hand. The spirits are available locally in Portland and by mail online.
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Oregon Spirit Distillers
In the heart of Midtown Bend is Oregon Spirit Distillers. In 2009, Brad and his wife, Kathy, embarked on the journey that would eventually create Central Oregon’s first grain-to-glass whiskey distillery. Crisp and pure water from the Cascade Mountains is used to make their award-winning whiskey, vodka and gin. However, in their distillery exclusives section, they also make rum in a single-barrel project. The Golden Rum Number 15 in their Hawthorne Series is a rum distilled from 100% blackstrap molasses. Aged 7 years in Bend, OR. This rum is made for sipping on its own or blending into a classic cocktail, which you can try on-site. The Tasting Room and Bottle Shop are open Wednesday through Saturday, with distillery tours available by reservation. The distillery tour is both fun and informative, taking guests behind the scenes of the rum-making process. You can enjoy pre-dinner cocktails or appetizers on the dog-friendly outdoor patio or settle into the cozy ambiance of the cocktail lounge to savor the signature Hawthorne Series Rum. Beyond tastings, they offer food pairing menus, host lively events, and celebrate local spirits with seasonal festivals
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Aside from the tasting rooms already mentioned, here are some more places to sip Oregon made rum locally at bars.
Where to Enjoy Rum in Oregon
Ashland: Oberon’s Cocktail Bar
Bend: Rapa Nui Tiki Bar
Eugene: Yardy Rum Bar
Newport: Rogue Spirits Sunset Bar
Portland: Rum Club Bar Portland, Bible Club PDX, Pambiche, Arbor Hall, Hale Pele, The Alibi Tiki Lounge, Driftwood Room, Cliffs PDX, Raven’s Manor, Tropicale, Teardrop Lounge
Salem: Side Hustle Bar
Springfield: The Monkey’s Paw
Visiting Oregon offers an escape to scenic coastlines, stunning state parks, sky-high mountain peaks, and deep lakes. Savour the flavours of delicious local seafood or homemade marionberry pie, perfectly paired with a craft rum cocktail. Against this backdrop, hidden gem rum experiences await you, from vibrant music festivals, rodeos, and wine and beer festivals to the distilled spirits tasting festival in Portland at the Redd on Distillery Row each February and the Corvallis Spirits Festival and Distillers Fest West in October. Whatever your adventure in the Pacific Northwest, a new rum adventure is never far away in Oregon.
For more general travel advice on Oregon Tourism
For travel planning, use our Oregon Rum Map
Thanks to the brands for contributing to this article and the use of images. Other image credits go to Canva Pro and user contributions.