Mount Elliot Springs launches rum rebellion

A new boutique distiller has released its first bottles of rum in a Townsville market where there are plenty of thirsty rum drinkers but no choice for a local product.

Mount Elliot Springs area sales manager Vicki Johnson with bottles of their new line of Burdekin rum. Picture: Shae Beplate.

• Mount Elliot Springs to build new rum distillery in NQ

A new boutique distiller has released its first bottles of rum in a Townsville market where there are plenty of thirsty rum drinkers but little or no choice for a local product.

Bottled spring water manufacturer Mount Elliot Springs, based at Majors Creek, is behind the new Burdekin Distillery and Burdekin Rum product.

Mount Elliot Springs CEO Tim Lamb said construction of their new distillery would start in the new year but they had proceeded to have the first in their range distilled — a white rum called Virgin Cane Spirit and a dark rum called Vintage Cane Spirit.

A premium rum, which it says will be reminiscent of the best Cuban rums, is due to be released mid-next year.

Mount Elliot Springs area sales manager Vicki Johnson with bottles of their new line of Burdekin rum. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“The Burdekin is known for its sugarcane. We felt it deserves its own rum. Burdekin Rum is different to traditional Australian rum producers in that we will use fresh sugar cane as the base for the cane spirits,” Mr Lamb said.

The cane spirit is made from freshly pressed sugarcane before fermenting and distilling, while for their premium rum product they will use local molasses fermented and distilled before ageing in ex-bourbon American oak barrels.

They will reduce the rum’s alcohol content to 40 per cent using the business’s spring water, renowned for its quality and rare naturally occurring high mineral content and alkalinity.

Mount Elliot Springs sales manager Vicki Johnson said it was an exciting initiative for the region drawing on local products for its manufacture.

She said it would complement other boutique beer and spirits ventures which were being established in the region, including new craft breweries in the Burdekin and on Magnetic Island and a gin distillery which has opened at the Rockpool Pavilion in Townsville.

“I think now with all the new distilleries opening up, it’s great for the boutiques and it’s great for tourism,” Ms Johnson said.

“It’s for locals who want to try something different.”

Online sales have been launched at https://burdekinrum.com.au.

Originally published as Mount Elliot Springs launches rum rebellion