We’re joined this episode by two of the founders of Queensland Rum Day, Matt Hobson of Cavu Distilling and Nil Desperandum Rum, and Duncan Littler of Bundaberg Rum.
The second ever Queensland Rum Day is coming up this Saturday, the 2nd November 2024, and this year brings with it a special collaborative rum showcasing liquid from four distilleries, two of which I’ve already mentioned, and the others being Beenleigh and Kalki Moon.
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They’re calling themselves The Rum Consortium, and there are just 1920 bottles available of their 2024 Limited Edition Blend, which is the first ever time that stalwarts Bundaberg and Beenleigh have ever combined their spirits in the same bottle.
I caught up with Matt and Duncan to find out about this historic rum release, the evolving rum industry in Queensland, and the significance of this new event that I expect will be hearing much more about in years to come.
Queensland is now home to more than 30 diverse rum distilleries, ranging from boutique Mum and Dad operations to giants such as Beenleigh and Bundaberg. Together, these distilleries produce more than seven million bottles of rum each year.
As rum making grows in Queensland, so too does Queenslanders’ appreciation of the spirit — with rum the fastest-growing alcohol beverage category in the state’s venues over the past 12 months.
Queensland Rum Day 2024
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, as well as other in-store offers on the day; and
- Kalki Moon Distillery will be conducting Complimentary Distillery Tours.
Queensland Distillers’ Association president David Ridden said Queenslanders should be proud of the inroads the state’s spirits and its rums are making on the world stage.
“Queensland rum, and Queensland spirits more broadly, are rightly taking their place among some of the best spirits manufacturing regions in the world.
“Queensland Rum Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the diversity of rum production in this state and to acknowledge the potential of this industry to continue to create manufacturing jobs and export opportunities for Queenslanders,” Ridden said.
Nil Desperandum Rum founder Matt Hobson said: “Queenslanders know that the rum born from our rich red soil and our sugarcane is special. We’re really excited to forget for a moment that we are competitors and collaborate on something truly unique and delicious — a Queensland rum created by the oldest rum producers in the state and some of the newest.”
“On this Queensland Rum Day we’d encourage you to raise a glass to Queensland’s wonderful rums, to the spirit of mateship and solidarity behind this limited-edition blend, and to the exciting potential of this growing industry,” Hobson said.
More:
Australian spirits targets $1 billion export opportunity by 2035
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