Rum from a land down-under
Does ‘Bundy’ speak for a nation?
The Bundaberg Distilling Company began distilling in 1888, with the first rum coming in 1889. It’s named after the town in Queensland, Australia in which it’s based and plays upon the country’s oddball nature. Take a visit and the locals will encourage you to refer to it as ‘Bundy.’
The distillery was started by cane farmers looking to use molasses and it quickly gained traction with the locals. They found it was better (in some eyes) than using sugar just to make cakes. Nothing wrong with cakes we suppose, but if you can have cakes and rum then why not. It’s another brand that ties into rum’s military history, with soldiers in the Boar War given a ration of Bundaberg rum.
Times haven’t always been easy for the brand and its people. In 1907 a fire broke out in one of the still rooms, during the middle of the night resulting in damage and loss of stock. In 1936, a fire broke out following lightning striking the distillery. On this occasion, litres of molasses flowed into the Burnett river, with the producer speculating at the now ‘excellently marinated fish’. A sunny disposition in hard times that speaks volumes about the distillery’s outlook and perhaps captures typical Aussie spirit.
There have certainly been good times too though. The distillery was back up and running in 1939 and with the exception of a lick of paint here and there, is much the same today as it would have been then. They’re pioneers to an extent as well – visiting American soldiers who enjoyed a mix of ‘Bundy’ and cola inspired the brand to bottle their own premix. In 1993, a bottled Dark & Stormy will follow in these footsteps.
Not so long ago it made up 74 per cent of the Australian rum market. In 2008 Bundaberg Red would land and after only two years it accounted for 15 per cent of the market. The distillery is also full of good eggs too, as when Queensland was hit with a devastating flood in 2013, they raised more than $250,000 for flood relief through limited-edition bottles.
At 37% ABV, the rums in Bundaberg’s classic range are considered spirit drinks, falling a fraction off the 37.5% that marks a rum.
The Bundaberg Overproof is 57.7% ABV and a premium collection that includes Master Distillers’ Solera, Blenders Edition, Small Batch Silver Reserve, Small Batch Vintage Barrel and Small Batch Reserve. Blenders Edition was awarded World’s Best Rum at the World Rum Awards just a few years ago.
As part of the fermentation process Bundaberg cultivates its own yeast strain – Saccharomyces Cerevisae. This yeast then spends two days in the fermentation tank with the molasses and water. Distillation takes place over two rounds with first the fermented mixture being placed into a giant wash column and the second in a pot still. Maturation in white oak takes place for a minimum of two years, before subsquently being blended with demineralised water, taking it down to bottling strength.
Tours makes a great way to see a different side of Queensland. The experience starts with a trip around the museum and a visit to the molasses well. There’s the opportunity for guests at the distillery to blend their own rum at the distiller, tutored by a distillery guide.
So, if you feel as though you want to try and catch a glimpse of what makes these Aussies quite so quirky, a trip to Bundaberg in Queensland and you’ll soon enough find that there’s a rum brand there that captures this spirit nicely.