Bundaberg

Australia
Founded in: 1888

All about Bundaberg

The most widely available expression of Bundaberg is their 37% ABV Underproof, which by definition isn’t technically Rum in Europe as it fails to make the 37.5% minimum level of alcoholic strength as defined under EU law.

Despite that, it’s massively popular in Australia with ‘Bundy and Coke’ being a regular request in bars. Bundaberg is distilled at the Bundaberg distillery. 

The Underproof is a pot still distilled Rum, meaning it is more flavorsome and it’s rested in oak vat for the minimum time required under Australian law (so it’s a little rough around the edges in an endearing characteristic way).

The company has been actively seeking to improve its image around the world and has been experimenting with different cask types and longer aging in an effort to smooth out the edges a little more.

This activity has been met with some success as the brand has started picking up awards at various Spirits competitions.

 
 
 

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All about Bundaberg distillery

Bundaberg Rum has got to be one of Australia’s most famous exports. The distillery was built in 1888, in Queensland, the beating heart of Australia’s sugar industry and a location that has easy access to molasses.

Molasses, water, and yeast (in this case a standard brewer’s yeast called Saccharomyces Cerevisiae) are all of the ingredients necessary for fermentation.

The resulting Wine is passed through a wash column to start the process of separating the Alcohol from the water and solid matter. The low ABV Spirit is then concentrated in the pot still to make the raw Rum.

Under Australian law, Rum can only be defined as such if it’s been stored in oak for a minimum of two years, which in this case makes reference to the oak vats.

After this, the Rum is either bottled or transferred to small cask for specific aging programs.

With the exception of the more recent aging programs that Bundaberg have implemented, the company claims the production process hasn’t changed since its conception in 1888.
 
 
 

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