Eight Woman-Run Rum Distilleries across the sun belt

Fall has arrived. And some think that means you have to put your beachy, summery cocktail recipes up on the shelf. We disagree. Summer is a state of mind and all it takes is a good rum drink to bring it back to life. And maybe a good bit of sun.

On that note, we zeroed in on the Sunbelt states – where it’s sunny year-round. It’s no surprise that these warm states, including Florida, Louisiana, Texas and South Carolina, are delivering delicious rum throughout the year. And many of these distilleries are woman owned or woman operated.

We’re mapped out eight of these woman-led distilleries where we’d highly recommend trying the rum. Scroll on to explore them all.

Twelve 33 Distillery

Michigan State University grads Rebecca and Kevin Osborn struck out on their own and tried seven different states on for size in 25 years – finally settling in South Carolina. That’s where the two ultimately opened Twelve 33 Distillery, a business that they poured their passion into. Today, the two produce a range of spirits – but we’re particularly interested in the rum.

There are two rums on the menu from Twelve 33. Mullet Creek, a silver rum, and Crusader Spiced Rum both feature names that celebrate the original rum runners. They also incorporate premium molasses for a high-quality flavor.

Get a taste of both when you drop by the distillery. Book a VIP tour by visiting the website today.

593 East Highway 90, Little River, South Carolina 29566

Beyond Distilling Company

For nearly a decade, Kerianne Krause worked as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, providing services to adults with disabilities. When she launched Beyond Distilling with her partners Tyler LaCorata and Ryan Sadis, she hoped to build a business that would give her clients sustainable employment. She succeeded and today helps run not only an accessible business but one that produces beverages that we definitely want to drink!

Kerianne’s production team, made up of adults with disabilities, crafts a fine Coconut Rum. The smooth and sweet spirit is meant to bring “the breezy sensibilities of the Low Country” to mind for the drinker.

If you’d like to get a taste of those breezy sensibilities, visit beyonddistillingcompany.com to book a tour.

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

Striped Pig Distillery

With the aim of delivering fully customized spirits experiences, Striped Pig Distillery is lead by owner “Pixie” Paula Dezzutti. Together with her team of distillers, she oversees a fine-tuned process that begins in the distillery’s own mill and is distilled through stills designed by the distillers themselves.

With that attention to detail, it’s no surprise that the Striped Rum is no average spirit. A premium Southern molasses lends a rich flavor to the white rum, resulting in notes of vanilla and butterscotch. Meanwhile, the Striped Spiced Rum draws inspiration from a family pie recipe and blends the original rum with allspice, clove, vanilla, brown sugar and cinnamon.

Try both rums when you drop by the distillery Tuesday through Saturday between noon and 6pm.

2225-A Old School Drive, Charleston, South Carolina 29405

Coastal Bend Distilling Co.

Based in Beeville, Texas, Coastal Bend Distilling counts Lindsay Horton among its leadership team. Hailing from Temecula, California, Lindsay developed the brand’s story, design and branding while also helping out behind the scenes with bottling runs and offering tastings around the state. She’s a big part of this small team that delivers high-quality spirits to the big state of Texas.

One of those spirits – the Copano Bay Rum – made its debut in March of 2024. Named for the Texas bay of the same name, this rum sat in bourbon barrels for two years. The result is a spirit that smells of barbecue smoke, bourbon and sweet baking spices. On the tongue, hot spice gives way to soft buttery cinnamon.

Experience this unique spirit and the Coastal Bend’s full lineup when you visit the tasting room. Check coastalbenddistillingco.com for the most up-to-date hours.

201 North Madison Avenue, Beeville, Texas 78102

Oxbow Rum Distillery

Honoring the five generations that came before her, Olivia Stewart carries on a family tradition of raising sugarcane on the same estate since 1859. It’s the same sugarcane used to craft Oxbow Rum at the distillery she runs on the same land in Pointe Coupée, Louisiana.

With the estate’s own fresh pressed cane and 100 percent grade A sugarcane molasses, Oxbow Rum crafts rum in small batches. The spirits are unfiltered and free of additives for a flavor worth sipping slowly.

Sip your own taste of Oxbow when you visit. Go to oxbowrumdistillery.com to book your very own tour of the distillery.

760 Saint Philip Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802

ChainBridge Distillery

When her son first brought up the idea of opening a distillery over Christmas dinner, Agnes Nahori called on her family’s background crafting palinka in Tokaj, a region known for its wines in Hungary. Agnes moved with her son, Bela, to Florida where they opened ChainBridge to produce traditional spirits.

Among the full selection of spirits crafted by ChainBridge, the rums represent the distillery’s home in Oakland Park, Florida. A silver rum, a spiced rum and a barrel-aged rum are on the menu there.

If you’d like to discover how Hungarian winemaking can influence a Florida rum for the better, drop by the distillery Tuesday through Thursday, 12pm to 5pm; Thursday, 12pm to 8pm; Friday through Saturday, 12pm to 9pm.

3500 Northeast 11th Avenue, Oakland Park, Florida 33334

Big Cypress Distillery

Partner Priscilla Perez teamed up with Big Cypress co-founders and cousins Fernando Plata and Mark Graham. Together this Florida-based distillery delivers a wide range of spirits, including gin and rum.

Hell’s Bay Rum is billed as Miami’s original aged rum. It’s made with organic sugar and molasses before it goes into American oak barrels. The distillery also features an Orange Spiced Rum that is blended with Floridian orange peels during the maturation process.

Discover these Florida rums when you visit the distillery’s cocktail bar Fridays and Saturdays between 5pm and midnight.

13995 Southwest 144 Ave #207, Miami, Florida 33186

Rotten Little Bastard Distillery

Owner Brigid Fackrell runs Rotten Little Bastard Distillery with her husband in Beaufort, South Carolina. The goal of the owners is to craft spirits using local grains and create these products from grain to glass.

Boundary Street Rum is crafted from organic molasses and evaporated cane juice. The result pulls through the natural flavors and offers a beverage that’s great on the rocks or in a rum cocktail.

Explore everything Rotten Little Bastard has to offer when you visit for a tour. Visit rottenlittlebastarddistillery.com to book one today.

2139 Boundary Street, Suite 102, Beaufort, SC 29902