Rum in America’s Dairyland
Wisconsin, famed for its breweries and dairy farms, might not seem a natural home for rum, yet this north-central Midwest state holds some unique rum stories. Wisconsin’s landscape, shaped by glaciers, lakes, and rivers, including the vast expanses of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, and scenic areas like the Apostle Islands and the Central Plain, influenced its early trade. While the climate was too cold for sugarcane, local waterways facilitated the movement of goods, including rum, into the state. The 1870s saw a boom in distilleries, nearly 300 strong, but the rise of the temperance movement and the influx of German settlers shifted Wisconsin’s focus to beer, cementing Milwaukee’s status as the Brew Capital of the World. Yet, rum’s story persisted.
During the 1920s Prohibition era, Wisconsin’s proximity to Canada made it a supply route for rum runners and bootleggers, fueling the speakeasies that dotted the state. Today, law changes and modern pioneer distilleries since 2004 have brought rum back into the spotlight. Surprising influences on rum brand successes have emerged from Wisconsin, including Sailor Jerry spiced rum, which gained early traction in Madison’s student bar scene, and RumChata, a popular rum cream liqueur, has been manufactured in Pewaukee since 2009 – quite fitting it should be in America’s dairy state. Despite ongoing regulations, Wisconsin’s craft rum scene is quietly flourishing, adding to the state’s rich distilling heritage. This insider’s guide explores the cheese state’s rum from north to south, perhaps revealing the perfect pairing along the way.
North Wisconsin
Defined by the majestic Lake Superior, its rugged shoreline, and the stunning Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, where sandstone cliffs and sea caves create breathtaking landscapes. The vast Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest offers hiking, camping, boating, and wildlife viewing amidst rolling hills, lakes, and waterfalls. Warm summers and cold, snowy winters transform the region, with a spectacular fall display and a charming, small-town atmosphere.
Tattersall Distilling
Tattersall Distillery in River Falls is a destination distillery, only 10 minutes from Hudson, WI, and just 25 minutes from Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Woodbury in Minnesota. They produce spirits and liqueurs that are the result of research and experimentation. Tattersall Blackstrap Rum is distilled from fermented blackstrap and fancy pearl molasses and then aged in our fresh whiskey barrels. Tattersall Spiced Rum is made from distilled cane sugar and molasses. Tattersall Spiced Rum is lightly aged and uses natural flavours. Tattersall hosts tours, cocktail classes, live music, events, a fully-stocked market, and more experiences, something for everyone. Whether you’re stopping in for a rum cocktail and dinner after a day on the Kinni or hosting a wedding or corporate event, they are ready to welcome you.
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Copper Crow Distillery
Situated in Bayfield along the shores of Lake Superior, Copper Crow was established in 2018 by Curtis and Linda Basina. Notably, they are the first Native Americans to distill spirits on a reservation in nearly two centuries. Their rum production blends molasses and raw cane sugar, using Lake Superior aquifer water. Following fermentation and small-batch distillation, the rum is aged in oak barrels. Copper Crow’s core rum range includes Copper Crow Spiced Rum, infused with natural spices, and Navy Strength Rum. The distillery welcomes visitors to its tasting room, open Thursday through Saturday, where seasonal cocktails, tours, and tastings are available. The tasting room’s relaxing interior provides an inviting atmosphere, allowing guests to immerse themselves in ‘The Spirit of the Superior.
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Great Northern Distilling
Established in Stevens Point in 2014, it produces a wide range of spirits, notably Great Northern Opportunity Rum. This 80-proof rum is distilled from a unique wash of cane sugar, baking molasses, and blackstrap molasses, fermented with Caribbean rum yeast. Aged in used Koval Distillery whiskey barrels, it gains a deep honey hue and a balanced profile of molasses and barrel flavours. You can experience the distillery with tours on every Saturday, which include a craft cocktail, a behind-the-scenes look at production, and a guided tasting. Rum enthusiasts can visit their downtown Mixology Bar showcases Opportunity Rum in a variety of expertly crafted cocktails.
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Smooth Sailing Rum
In 2011, in the heart of Coleman, a small town about 40 miles north of Green Bay, Curt Naegeli established Smooth Sailing Rum. This toffee-flavoured rum liqueur originated from his home experiments. Distilled in a reflux column still of their own design. The neutral cane distillate is combined with other ingredients and heated to 149 degrees for 18 days. This ageing caramelizes some of the sugar and brings the flavours together. Bottled at 23% by The North Woods Distillery, Smooth Sailing Rum is a unique toffee rum liqueur. Latest flavours are Cinnamon and Coffee, with Mint flavour planned for later this year. A new still has been developed to create these, and a mint farm is being constructed on the distillery’s roof to grow mint for the mint flavoured rum. There’s no distillery tour, but you can find the rum locally.
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East Central Wisconsin
Centred around Green Bay, the region is defined by the waters of Green Bay and the Fox River Valley, blending river landscapes, sprawling farmlands, and expansive waters. Warm summers and cold, snowy winters create a distinct seasonal rhythm. Green Bay, Wisconsin’s oldest city, boasts a rich history, a vibrant cultural scene, the iconic Lambeau Field, the Oldest NFL Stadium, and numerous parks and trails along the Fox River. The bay is popular for boating, fishing, and scenic views, while the surrounding farmlands highlight the region’s agricultural heritage as the dairy state. Greater Green Bay often ranks high among the best places to live in the US.
Paradise North Distillery
The family-owned artisan distillery in Green Bay was established in 2021, fulfilling owner Tom Feld’s vision of crafting quality spirits. They produce a range of rums, featuring Beach Road Silver, Gold, Spiced, and Blackstrap. Beach Road Silver Rum is pot-distilled from domestic blackstrap molasses and raw cane sugar, resulting in an aromatic, richly textured white rum. Beach Road Gold Rum, crafted with Louisiana blackstrap molasses, is double pot-distilled and aged in bourbon barrels. Beach Road Blackstrap Rum is characterized by heavy molasses, vanilla beans, spices, and caramelized cane sugar. Beach Road Spiced Rum, based on their Silver Rum, is infused with baking spices, vanilla, and caramelized cane sugar. Visitors can experience the distillery through tours, which include a tasting of at least four ½ oz samples and insights into their crafting process. Paradise North also hosts special events, including curated dinners, cooking classes, and weddings.
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Sturgeon Spirits Craft Distillery
Sturgeon Spirits Craft Distillery, established in Oshkosh in 2022, produces a wide range of spirits, including vodka, gin, rum, and whiskey. The distillery’s name honours the area’s sturgeon spearing tradition and its community significance, a detail owner Karl Loewenstein discovered when he learned his house was once owned by sturgeon poachers. Sturgeon Spirits distills its rum on-site, making white, coconut, banana, spiced, and barrel-aged varieties. Visitors can enjoy unique craft cocktails in the distillery’s tasting room, with over 250 cocktail recipes featuring their rum. Over 40 of their bottled spirits are available for purchase, and the rum can also be found at local bars, restaurants, and stores. The tasting room is open six days a week.
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Southeast Wisconsin
Anchored by the vibrant city of Milwaukee on Lake Michigan, Southeast Wisconsin blends urban energy with scenic lakeside beauty. Lake Michigan’s shoreline provides stunning vistas, recreation, and a moderating influence on the climate. Milwaukee, once the “Beer Capital of the World,” remains a bustling metropolis, with a rich blend of cultural attractions, historical landmarks, and a lively arts scene. Warm summers and cold, snowy winters create a picturesque landscape, perfect for exploring the city’s craft scene and enjoying scenic coastal drives. This can be a gateway to exploring the rest of your Wisconsin adventure.
Plank Road Distillery
Opened in 2019, the distillery is located in Plymouth within an 1846 building, the oldest surviving stagecoach inn along the historic Plank Road connecting Sheboygan and Fond du Lac—hence the distillery’s name. Housed in the original blacksmith shop, the distillery launched with vodka, gin, and rum, later adding aged whiskey. Instead of traditional tours, Plank Road offers a cosy, historic tasting room experience. They produce small-batch spirits including vodka, gin, agave spirits, whiskey, bourbon, and rum. Their rum, double-distilled from sugar in raw and blackstrap molasses, features a sugary, buttery profile with a hint of coconut. The tasting room offers individual speciality cocktails and shareable ‘Planks’ of four cocktails, highlighting local ingredients. Plank Road Distillery encourages visitors to recreate their tasting experience at home with bottled spirits. Menu updates are available on their socials.
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Great Lakes Distillery & Tasting Room
Wisconsin’s original craft distillery was founded in Milwaukee by Guy Rehorst in 2004. They produce Roaring Dan’s Rum, distilled from grade ‘A’ sugar cane molasses, with pure Wisconsin maple syrup added before a second distillation. The rum is then aged in a combination of new charred American white oak and used bourbon barrels, resulting in a buttery sweetness followed by a dry finish. Roaring Dan Seavey, the rum’s namesake, was a real-life Great Lakes pirate. Known for his unconventional methods, Seavey owned a saloon and brothel in Milwaukee and was the only person ever arrested for piracy on the Great Lakes. Notably, in 1908, he stole the ship, Nellie Johnson. The rum’s maple syrup flavouring comes from Anderson’s Maple Syrup in Cumberland, Wisconsin. Great Lakes Distillery encourages visitors to explore their rum cocktails via their online cocktail database.
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Twisted Path Distillery
In Milwaukee’s Bay View neighbourhood, Twisted Path was founded by distiller Brian Sammons in 2013. Distilling isn’t Brian’s first career; after college and intelligence work in Washington D.C. with the Department of Defense and CIA, he attended law school, where he met his wife, Laura. They started a family in Milwaukee, and after his time as a criminal prosecutor and private attorney, they founded Twisted Path Distillery, turning a hobby into a business. Twisted Path Distillery makes a complete lineup of spirits today and is particularly proud of its White and Dark Rums. Each rum is carefully distilled from organic Paraguayan molasses, which is slowly fermented and then distilled in a pot still. Twisted Path White Rum is a flavourful rum with a light body, making it perfect for any rum cocktail. It’s bold, fruity, and smoky character elevates any rum drink, whether a classic Daiquiri or something more adventurous. Twisted Path Dark Rum is barrel-aged in ex-rye whiskey barrels. Twisted Path White and Dark Rum are available in the Twisted Path Distillery tasting room. Twisted Path tasting room is a cocktail destination in Milwaukee, serving some of the best cocktails in the city. Distillery tours are offered on Saturdays and can be booked online.
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South Wisconsin
The state capital and university town of Madison is surrounded by charming southern rural farmlands. The region’s dairy lands and numerous lakes, including the iconic Mendota and Monona in Madison, provide a scenic backdrop. North of the city is Devil’s Lake State Park and the Wisconsin Dells. Further south is agriculture, cheese, and small-town charm. Warm summers are ideal for exploring the outdoors, while winters bring cold, snowy landscapes.
State Line Distillery
Established in 2017, State Line Distillery in Madison makes award-winning rum from 100% American molasses, relying solely on the molasses’ natural sugars for fermentation. A precise blend of light and dark molasses, dunder, and water forms the base of State Line Distillery’s wash. Their own live dunder plays a key role, naturally adjusting the pH and encouraging bacterial activity that enriches the rum’s fruity and complex notes. In addition, extended fermentation times and pot distillation contribute to the spirit’s depth and richness. The final product is a blend of rum aged in used bourbon barrels and new make spirit, slowly proofed down to maintain its intricate profile. State Line Distillery prides itself on using no additives, resulting in a rum that is 100% natural. State Line’s cocktail lounge located in Madison, WI, serves as a hidden gem. Their bartenders blend the science of distillation with the art of mixology with balanced and flavourful cocktails that feature their own spirits.
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Old Sugar Distillery
Old Sugar Distillery was founded in 2010 by University of Wisconsin graduate Nathan Greenawalt. He had a modified copper pot still fabricated for him by Colonel Wilson of Alma, Arkansas. This still’s unique shape lends to the unique flavour of their spirits. Nathan has found that he still lets a lot more flavour come through than a big, tall column still would. Old Sugar Distillery is named for the factory behind Olbrich Gardens which was originally constructed to be a sugar factory. Cane and Abe is named for Old Abe, the bald eagle that was the mascot for Wisconsin’s 8th Infantry during the civil war. The rum is made from dark brown cane sugar from Hawaii. Cane and Abe Rum is aged in 75% new (25% second use) charred oak 15-gallon barrels, sourced from Minnesota. The heavy char gives the rum its darker colour and a robust caramel-y oak flavour. There will be a limited release of 15-year-old Cane and Abe rum in October of 2025. Old Sugar Distillery is located in Madison, WI. Their tasting room is open Thursday-Saturday, with guided tastings available on Saturdays
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Yahara Bay Distillers
Madison’s first distillery was established in 2007 by Nick Quint, who realised his vision. With his stepson, Lars Forde, as head distiller, and wife Catherine Quint managing the art gallery, Yahara Bay has grown from producing a few products to over 40, distributing to 20 states. Their premium rum, Mad Bird Rum, is aged in bourbon barrels for a minimum of nine months. Their unaged Premium Rum uses food-grade molasses and Wisconsin-grown sorghum, with a rum-specific yeast for a Caribbean-style spirit. The distillery operates from a 20,000-square-foot facility featuring an event space, tasting room, art gallery, and retail space. Visitors can tour the distillery, witnessing the operation of ‘CARL,’ a German-made still assembled by the owners. Tours are available by appointment Monday-Thursday, Friday 5-9 pm, and Saturday 1-6 pm
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Minhas Distillery
Established in 2006, Minhas Distillery, a division of Minhas Brewery, operates from a 100-year-old historic building in downtown Monroe. Situated 45 minutes from Madison and 15 minutes from the Illinois border, the distillery employs traditional blending and distilling techniques to produce artisan spirits, including vodka, rum, and gin. Their Gold Coast XO rum, notably, is produced in Barbados and aged in charred, white oak barrels. Tours offer insights into their spirit-making process and you can try their imported rum. Visitors can also check out their gift shop and explore the largest brewery memorabilia museum in the US, just next to the distillery.
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Aside from the tasting rooms already mentioned, here are some more places to sip Wisconsin rum locally at bars.
Where to Enjoy Rum in Wisconsin
Green Bay: RumRunners
Jacksonport: Island Fever Rum Bar & Grill
Madison: Le Tigre Lounge, The Robin Room, The Tiki Bar on Lake Monona, Merchant Madison, Maduro, Nattspil, Genna’s Lounge
Monona: Tasting Room
Milwaukee: Foundation bar, Cubanitas, Lost Whale, Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge, Café Benelux, Harbor House, At Random
West Allis: Antigua Latin Inspired Kitchen, McCoco’s Caribbean Restaurant
Whether you’re exploring the Wisconsin Dells, Devil’s Lake State Park, the Apostle Islands, Northwoods lake, or experiencing the vibrant Fox Cities, Madison, or Milwaukee, Wisconsin hidden gem rum experiences are just around the corner. Amidst the celebrated cheese curds, Friday fish fries, and craft brews, there’s a taste of Wisconsin for every traveller. For a unique and local detour from the major attractions, venture off the beaten path to uncover the state’s burgeoning rum scene, and perhaps find the perfect rum pairing to complement your Wisconsin adventure.
For more general travel advice on Wisconsin Tourism
To see all the rums on our Wisconsin Rum Map
Thanks to the brands for contributing to this article, and permission to use their images, credit to Full Pour Media for the State Line Distillery image. Other image credits to Canva Pro, and user contributions.
