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Beenleigh Rum is one of Australia's oldest brands of rum. It is produced at the heritage-listed Beenleigh Rum Distillery at Eagleby (formerly part of Beenleigh) in the City of Logan, Queensland. This Australian Rum is 100% Australian made from all local ingredients and is available in 700 ml Dark Rum aged for 5 years, 700 ml White Rum and Australia's only 700 ml Honey Liqueur Dark rum rum grades. All three offers are fermented from Queensland molasses.
The distillery was developed to include a blending hall, bottling plant, warehouse and administration facilities. It is located on the bank of the Albert River and is a landmark on the river flats in the area.
History
The Beenleigh Rum Distillery is the oldest registered distillery in Australia, and is a rare survivor of Australia's early sugar industry. It commenced operations in 1884 and was the legal successor to a floating moonshine still, the SS Walrus, which drifted between cane plantations evading police in the early 19th century.Between 1981 and 2005 a museum featuring displays on the history of sugar and rum production in the Beenleigh area was open at the distillery. The stills, vats and photos were relocated to the Beenleigh Historical Village.
Over the years, the once famous Beenleigh Rum lost its prominent place in Australia to Bundaberg Rum.
In 2003, the Beenleigh Rum brand name was sold to Vok Beverages, a subsidiary of Adelaide based beverage company Bickford's Australia. In 2007 the brand was sold to Diageo Australia and then in February 2012 the brand was sold back to Vok Beverages. In May 2012 Vok Beverages purchased the Beenleigh Distillery and reconnected the brand and the distillery.
The historic Beenleigh Rum Distillery also produces Inner Circle Rum. Inner Circle was the exclusive preserve of Australia’s Colonial Sugar Refining Company’s board of directors and a handful of its prized clients, and even they were only entitled to the occasional bottle. Despite its limited availability, word of Inner Circle’s unique flavour became legendary- whispered among rum enthusiasts the world over. Inner Circle Rum was lost when CSR sold the brand in 1986.
Stuart Gilbert reinvigorated the brand in 2000 when he purchased the trademark and partnered with Malcolm Campbell, old master Distiller, to bring the brand back to life. He sold the brand in 2007, and today it is back and being produced at the Beenleigh Distillery - using traditional Pot Distillation, in line with how it was produced by CSR in Australia from 1855 to 1986.