When Tasmania was first settled, rum was currency and used broadly across the state.
It was in 1808 that Governor Bligh (who you may know from the 'mutiny on the bounty' incident), outlawed spirits as currency in Australia and caused the infamous Rum Rebellion. Shortly thereafter, spirits production was banned in Tasmania and rum disappeared from our island.
Fast forward 180 years, great whisky and gin are aplenty, but Tasmanian rum is still more difficult to find.
As a spirited spirits enthusiast, it was over a glass of rum in a small Salamanca tavern that Tarrant Derksen realised there were no rum-dedicated distilleries in the state.
So after training in the USA and lots of research (ahem, and tasting!) with master distillers and drink-makers, Tarrant set about establishing New Norfolk Distillery - a family-owned and run business dedicated to nurturing and re-invigorating the love for rum in Australia.
