Cairns Rum Company

Cairns Rum Company

Our Rum

Three ranges. One belief: exceptional rum begins with exceptional fermentation.

From our everyday Foundation Range, through the experimental Australis Editions, to our ultra-premium Grand Australis collection — every bottle is crafted in the tropics from North Queensland cane.

Range 1

Foundation Range

Our everyday range — the story of North Queensland cane and proprietary Fission yeast, unaged and aged. 

Unaged · 40%

Foundation White

Our Foundation White is where The Cairns Rum Company story begins.
 
Crafted from North Queensland cane and fermented using our proprietary Fission yeast cultures, this spirit is designed to showcase fruit, aroma and texture that are perfect for a cocktail.  Bright tropical notes lead the way, with layers of ripe banana, mango skin and paw paw supported by delicate floral character and a remarkably creamy mouthfeel. The result is a white that feels vibrant, expressive and effortlessly smooth.
 
Whether enjoyed neat, over ice, or as the foundation of a great Daiquiri, Mojito or a Pina Colada, the Foundation White delivers a level of character rarely found in this type of spirit.
 
Tasting Profile
  • Tropical fruit and ripe banana
  • Mango skin and fresh paw paw
  • Delicate floral notes
  • Creamy, rounded texture
  • Long, soft finish

Independent WSET spirits assessor Adam Chapman described the spirit as "playful and refined", noting its exceptional tropical fruit character, creamy palate and remarkable balance.

Unaged · 40%

Foundation Gold

Our Foundation Gold builds upon the bright tropical character of our white, adding richness, colour and complexity.
 
Refined with oak in the tropical climate of Far North Queensland, and still technically unaged, it develops additional depth while retaining the fruit-forward personality associated with The Cairns Rum Company spirits. Notes of caramelised sugar, soft oak and warm spice complement the vibrant fruit character created during fermentation.
 
Designed to be equally at home with coke, the base of a premium cocktail or enjoyed neat, Foundation Gold is a versatile everyday rum with genuine craft credentials.
 
Tasting Profile
  • Tropical fruit and ripe banana
  • Soft caramel and toffee
  • Gentle oak influence
  • Warm spice
  • Smooth lingering finish
Unaged · 63%

Foundation Overproof (White)

Bold, unapologetic and bursting with flavour.
 
Our Foundation Overproof unaged white is fermented with a completely different  S.Pombe variety.  Designed as a tropical fruit-driven spirit, it is presented at an elevated strength for maximum aroma and intensity. Designed for tiki cocktails, classic punches and adventurous rum enthusiasts, it delivers powerful fruit character while remaining remarkably balanced.
 
Despite its higher proof, the focus remains on flavour rather than warmth. Rich tropical notes, bright fermentation character and a long, complex finish make this a spirit that stands out whether mixed or sipped carefully.
 
Tasting Profile
  • Intense tropical fruit
  • Ripe banana and pineapple
  • Rich cane fermentation characters
  • Full-bodied texture
  • Powerful, persistent finish

Range 2

Australis Editions

LIMITED RELEASE

The Blackwell

The Blackwell is our first small-batch release and a rare opportunity to taste the future of The Cairns Rum Company before it meets the oak.

Bottled at its 60.6% barrel-entry strength, it is the final unaged portion of a ten-barrel batch now resting under our Australis Editions range. In the years ahead, that spirit will emerge as a series of exceptional premium releases. For now, The Blackwell offers a fleeting glimpse of it in its rawest and most expressive form.

Created from three separate fermentations using Schizosaccharomyces pombe yeast, muck and dunder, then distilled through our double-retort pot still, The Blackwell is unapologetically bold yet remarkably composed.

It is a superb neat sipper with a medium-heavy body and an intensely aromatic profile: ripe tropical fruit, liquorice and dark chocolate, layered with brine, green olives and a long, savoury finish.

This is a future rum stripped bare, unaged, and alive with character. Made for those who appreciate a fine white spirit in all its naked glory.

The Blackwell begins with locally produced cane syrup sourced directly from the Mulgrave Mill at Gordonvale.  Its name honours pioneer Richard Blackwell, who donated land for the construction of the mill on its present site.

Taste it now. The next chapter will take years.

Japonicus

Australia's First Schizosaccharomyces japonicus Rum
 
Most rum in the world is fermented using the same family of yeast.
 
This spirit is not.
 

Simply titled "Japonicus" of our Australis Editions range, this expression showcases Schizosaccharomyces japonicus—an exceptionally rare fission yeast that sits at the heart of The Cairns Rum Company story.

Following years of research, isolation, cultivation and production-scale development, we are proud to present Australia’s first rum produced using this remarkable microorganism.

Unlike conventional rum yeasts, S. japonicus creates a distinctive aromatic profile defined by spice, texture and complexity. By presenting a small quantity of this spirit unaged, we allow its fermentation character to stand entirely on its own—unmasked by oak and experienced exactly as it emerged from our double-retort pot still.

This release offers a rare opportunity to explore the direct influence of an extraordinary yeast on flavour and aroma, while showcasing the scientific curiosity and experimentation that define The Cairns Rum Company.

As with our other Australis Editions release, only a small portion of this batch will be bottled unaged. The remainder will be carefully blended or filled into oak barrels and laid down for full tropical maturation, before returning in the years ahead as an entirely different expression.

Tasting Notes

An intensely aromatic spirit that showcases the remarkable character of S. japonicus fermentation.

Concentrated tropical spice leads the way, followed by tobacco, leather and black banana, layered with dark berry fruit. The palate is rich, vibrant and generously textured, carrying the spirit’s distinctive character effortlessly from nose to finish.

Powerful yet balanced, it remains clean and focused, with a long, evolving finish that continues to reveal itself well after the final sip.

Note - This spirit is currently not available, however another batch has been scheduled for the 2026 cane crushing season.  An update will be provided in due course.

$140.00 plus postage

RETURNING SOON

Sign up below to get an instant email alert the moment this item is back in stock.

Range 3

Grand Australis

Suave Reserve

The Suave Reserve is the first of our Grand Australis releases and represents years of research, experimentation and obsession.
 
Inspired by the legendary Grand Arôme rums of the French Caribbean, this limited release explores the outer boundaries of rum fermentation and aroma. Complex fermentations, specialised yeast cultures and meticulous double retort distillation create a spirit unlike anything previously produced in Australia.
 
The result is a remarkably aromatic spirit layered with tropical fruit, ripe pineapple, mango, banana and exotic floral notes. Powerful yet elegant, it delivers extraordinary depth while remaining balanced and approachable.
 
Produced in extremely limited quantities, this release is designed to help show the uniqueness of Australian premium rum to the rest of the world.
 
Tasting Profile
  • Explosive tropical fruit aromas
  • Ripe pineapple and mango
  • Black banana and exotic fruit
  • Floral complexity
  • Long, evolving finish

A style traditionally associated with Martinique and Réunion Island, Grand Arôme rums are celebrated for their exceptional aromatic intensity and complexity. The Cairns Rum Company is proud to bring an Australian interpretation of this rare category to life.

$150.00 plus postage

RETURNING SOON

Sign up below to get an instant email alert the moment this item is back in stock.

White Logo

Disclaimer

Enjoy responsibly. Alcohol should only be consumed by adults of legal drinking age. This website contains alcohol-related content and is intended only for people aged 18 years and over.

Quick Links

ADA Logo White

The Australian Distillers Association (ADA) is the peak national body championing innovation, safety, and growth for local craft distillers.

© The Cairns Rum Company 2026

Privacy Policy  |  Terms & Conditions

Are you 18 years or older?

This website contains information about alcoholic beverages and is intended only for people of legal drinking age. By entering this site, you confirm that you are 18 years or older and agree to view alcohol-related content responsibly.