craft rum for Aussies

[Ken Gargett]

i suspect that very few Aussies have come across Soltera Rum. made by Cabarita Spirits. tiny operation. literally a garage. visited this morning. i have followed them for a few years and they are making some very well priced and very decent rums, getting better and better. 

if you want to try them, https://cabaritaspirits.com/

go for any of them (and no, i am not on commission), but the Northern Rivers Rum Special Cask is definitely worthwhile. but you might need to be quick. 

[Fuzz AI]

Have heard of Cabarita Spirits but never came across their rum. Will have to buy a bottle and give them a try.

[Christophe]

Slim chance of that being available in Europe I guess. 

On a somewhat-related note: My all-time favorite rum is a vintage bottling by Plantation -  Australia 2007 14YO 49,3% This stuff is great right off the bat, but if you give it 15 minutes in your glass before sipping, magical, unexplainable things happen. It starts tasting like flowers. You won't believe it till you try (I didn't either). 

I don't think they disclose the distillery, but I've been told there's only two in Australia. 

[Ken Gargett]

18 hours ago, Christophe said:

Slim chance of that being available in Europe I guess. 

On a somewhat-related note: My all-time favorite rum is a vintage bottling by Plantation -  Australia 2007 14YO 49,3% This stuff is great right off the bat, but if you give it 15 minutes in your glass before sipping, magical, unexplainable things happen. It starts tasting like flowers. You won't believe it till you try (I didn't either). 

I don't think they disclose the distillery, but I've been told there's only two in Australia. 
 

two rum distilleries in Australia? there are two down the road from me and at the moment, i am away in the sticks. we have about as many rum distilleries as we do dangerous animals. 

i've never been able to work out the source either. but what is interesting is that you talk about flowers. i'd think of that as more a character from the agricole rums rather than the normal molasses rums. when i do google plantation australia, it is often linked with Husk rums (by chance, one of those two that is just down the road at the moment), but it is never suggested definitely that this is the source. that said, they are one of the very few distilleries here that do make rums in the agricole style. so perhaps???

but they talk about the blend of two styles in the plantation, so perhaps they are sourcing from several distilleries and blending. possible? next time i am at Husk, will try and ask.

one thing against it being Husk for any involvement is that 2007 would have been very early for them. not sure that they would have had the stocks or quality then and i am fairly certain that an operation like plantation would not have been chasing them. however, perhaps this was an early distillation that they put aside and subsequently sold. by fun to find out. 

[Ken Gargett]

6 hours ago, Fuzz AI said:

Have heard of Cabarita Spirits but never came across their rum. Will have to buy a bottle and give them a try.

fuzz, let me know how you go. 

[Ken Gargett]

18 hours ago, Christophe said:

Slim chance of that being available in Europe I guess. 

On a somewhat-related note: My all-time favorite rum is a vintage bottling by Plantation -  Australia 2007 14YO 49,3% This stuff is great right off the bat, but if you give it 15 minutes in your glass before sipping, magical, unexplainable things happen. It starts tasting like flowers. You won't believe it till you try (I didn't either). 

I don't think they disclose the distillery, but I've been told there's only two in Australia. 
 

and yes, absolutely bugger all chance of it being available in Europe at the moment. 

[Christophe]

On 7/4/2026 at 11:53 AM, Ken Gargett said:

two rum distilleries in Australia? there are two down the road from me and at the moment, i am away in the sticks. we have about as many rum distilleries as we do dangerous animals. 

i've never been able to work out the source either. but what is interesting is that you talk about flowers. i'd think of that as more a character from the agricole rums rather than the normal molasses rums. when i do google plantation australia, it is often linked with Husk rums (by chance, one of those two that is just down the road at the moment), but it is never suggested definitely that this is the source. that said, they are one of the very few distilleries here that do make rums in the agricole style. so perhaps???

but they talk about the blend of two styles in the plantation, so perhaps they are sourcing from several distilleries and blending. possible? next time i am at Husk, will try and ask.

one thing against it being Husk for any involvement is that 2007 would have been very early for them. not sure that they would have had the stocks or quality then and i am fairly certain that an operation like plantation would not have been chasing them. however, perhaps this was an early distillation that they put aside and subsequently sold. by fun to find out. 

I always assumed the guy was referring to Beenleigh and Bundaburg. I'm assuming that's the two largest operations in Australia, but it'd be interesting to find out if they sourced their distillates somewhere else. Especially considering I think those two are the only Australian rums you can buy under their own name here, and that Plantation 2007 makes me think somebody out there where you live is making the perfect rum for my palate.

 P.S. Btw, I've never had Beenleigh or Bundaberg rum. Is either worth a try? 
 

[Fuzz AI]

If you feel like punishing yourself, sure, have a Bundy. 

[SirVantes]

Plantation/Plantaray Australia 2007 = Beenleigh

https://planterayrum.com/terroir/australia/

[Fuzz AI]

I think Red Mill Rum is made in Sydney again after a long time being discontinued.