9 Woman-Owned Rum Distilleries Along the East Coast

A pirate’s life is not really our thing. We’re certainly not here to romanticize a treacherous life at sea. But that pirate drink of choice – a bottle of rum – sounds nice! And luckily plenty of craft distillers took up the job of developing high-quality rum with carefully selected ingredients – making it a spirit worthy of a sip by all of us, peg-legged or not.

If you’re short a pirate ship, another stellar locale for a rum drinker is a beach; the beaches along the eastern coast of the US don’t disappoint. It makes sense that rum distilleries – especially those owned and operated by women – have popped up along the eastern seaboard of late.

Next time you take a trip along the coast from Florida up through Maryland, we’ve mapped out nine woman-led distilleries serving fine rum for you to hit up as you head north.

Wicked Dolphin Distillery

When JoAnn Elardo founded Wicked Dolphin Distillery in 2012, she aimed to create a rum that’s 100 percent Florida-grown. Her team sources Florida sugarcane and other local ingredients to produce thirteen flavored and premium rums. Once crafted, the spirits age in American White Oak barrels that previously held Kentucky bourbon.

Among the many products released by Wicked Dolphin, the Silver Reserve has earned recognition through several awards. The vanilla and butterscotch notes of this spirit have impressed the judges for sure.

Try Silver Reserve and the other Wicked Dolphin flavors, including Spiced, Coconut, Banana and more, when you visit the tasting room Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm or Saturday, 11am to 5pm. Tours take place Tuesday, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

131 SW 3rd Place, Cape Coral, Florida 33991

Severessence Distilling Co.

A fascination with craft spirits and all of its possibilities led Victoria Wagner, a research engineer with an advanced degree in chemical engineering, into the distilling industry during the pandemic. She founded Severessence Distilling Co., drawing on her scientific experience to craft gin, rum, and agave spirits that embody both traditional and innovative twists with an eye on detail and dedication to quality.

Severessence’s line of Severance gins demonstrates the versatile personality of the spirit, from classic juniper forward to contemporary color-changing and barrel-rested gins. This spring, Biki’s Rums, including Biki’s Silver Rum, Biki’s Gold Rum, Biki’s Rum (aged in select barrels) and Biki’s Coffee Rum, a flavored selection infused with coffee beans, are being released as the second spirits line. An aquavit and a second limited reserve gin are slated for late spring and summer release.

Next time you’re in the Tampa Bay area, seek out Severance Gins and Biki’s Rum!

Tampa, Florida

Jupiter Rum Co.

Owned by two sisters, Jupiter Rum Co. came about as a way to honor and celebrate the small town of Jupiter, Florida and the people who live there. It’s a place that features gorgeous natural beauty in the form of the Loxahatchee River and the Jupiter Inlet. A historic lighthouse and a budding dining scene also make this quite the destination. Jupiter Rum Co. is dedicated to highlighting all of it.

Using only the finest ingredients, Jupiter Rum Co. crafts a Butterscotch Rum that you have to taste to really appreciate. A unique butterscotch flavor complements the rum in an unexpected way. For spiced rum lovers, Jupiter has the 1660 Spiced Rum available as well.

Experience Jupiter Rum for yourself: when you’re in the area, look for it at these local retailers.

Jupiter, Florida

Black Creek Distilleries

Suzette Fleming and her husband Dave opened Black Creek Distilleries, the first legal distillery in Florida’s Clay County back in 2019. Together, the couple produces their flagship Pop’s Block and Tackle White Rum, inspired by Dave’s father, as well as a lineup of other rums, including two barrel-aged golden rums.

The Pop’s Block and Tackle is made with Panela sugar – not found for sale in the US. In fact, Black Creek orders the sugar in 50-pound bags to produce spirits in-house.

Get a taste of all the rums made by Black Creek Distilleries by dropping by the distillery Tuesday through Friday, 10am to 5pm.

4289 County Road 218, Middleburg, Florida 32068

Beyond Distilling Co.

After spending years running a business that supported individuals with autism and developmental delays, Kerianne Krause founded Beyond Distilling with her partners Tyler LaCorata and Ryan Sadis in North Charleston, South Carolina. Her goal: to help people who aged out of her program to find gainful employment instead of underpaid jobs. In the process, the three business partners craft a whiskey, a gin and – of course, a coconut rum.

Designed as a nod to the coastal city Beyond Distilling calls home, the Coconut Rum features natural flavors and high-quality ingredients. The sweet flavor really comes through when served on the rocks with a spritz of lime.

Taste the rum and Beyone Distilling’s other spirits when you visit the North Charleston location Tuesday through Thursday between 8:30am and 4:30pm.

2157 Rich Street, Unit 203, North Charleston, South Carolina 29405

Twelve 33 Distillery

Rebecca Osborn and her husband Kevin founded Twelve 33 Distillery with the intention of producing small-batch spirits from locally sourced ingredients. The pair came to South Carolina to be near family and find a distiller-friendly environment but they also hoped to celebrate the culture and people of Little River, the town where the business opened.

Twelve 33 Distillery produces ten core spirits, including three rums: Mullet Creek Rum, Crusader Spiced Rum and Arethusa Single Barrel Rum. The Arethusa celebrates rum runners of Prohibition and incorporates blackstrap molasses. The rum ages in rye whiskey barrels to gain flavors of caramel and vanilla.

Go to Twelve 33’s tasting room Monday through Friday from 1pm to 7pm or Saturday 12pm to 7pm to try their full lineup of spirits.

593 Hwy 90 E, Little River, South Carolina 29566

Liberty & Plenty Distillery

As sole owner, Tina Williford founded Liberty & Plenty Distillery and Cocktail Bar as a way to showcase products that were influenced by her friends and family. Putting her Master of Science degree in Brewing and Distilling from Heriot-Watt University to work, she produces three core spirits brands, including a brand of rum.

The Cap & Cane White Rum features Guatemalan molasses, sourced from sugarcane that grows in volcanic soils. Flavors of caramel, vanilla and tropical fruit shine through in the final result.

Identify your own flavors in the Liberty & Plenty spirits when you travel to the distillery Wednesday and Thursday, 4pm to 9pm; Friday, 4pm to 11pm; Saturday, 11am to 11pm or Sunday, 1pm to 8pm.

609 Foster Street, Durham, North Carolina 27701

Puerto Rico Distillery

With the goal of introducing a traditional Puerto Rican spirit to the US, Crystal Rivera teamed up with her father, Angel Rivera and opened Puerto Rico Distillery in Frederick, Maryland. Together, the two craft pitorro, a style of rum unique to Puerto Rico.

Using a family recipe, Crystal and her father released Clandestino, a version of pitorro flavored with raisins, prunes, and cranberries. Since that first spirit, they’ve crafted a number of other flavored rums.

Try all the rums available at Puerto Rico Distillery when you visit Fridays, 12pm to 5pm or Saturdays, 12pm to 6pm.

1341 Hughes Ford Road, Unit 113A, Frederick, Maryland 21701

Lyon Rum

Jaime Windon launched Windon Distilling and started producing Lyon Rum after a career that gave her experience in the hospitality industry and took her traveling all over the world. She started out with the humble goal of producing 30 bottles of rum but ten years later, Jaime is still running everything from production to sales and business operations.

With six rums to choose from, Lyon Rum offers something for every type of rum lover. The Sailors Reserve sits in American Oak bourbon barrels for a year, drawing out vanilla and oak flavors. Small batches of flavored rums, such as blackberry and pineapple, drop seasonally.

Discover all of Lyon Rum’s spirits when you go by the brewery Sunday through Thursday, 11am to 4pm or Friday and Saturday, 11am to 5pm.

103 East Marengo Street, St Michaels, Maryland 21663