Canada may be a country better known for its whiskies, but it also has a small but growing rum-making scene with dedicated craft distillers that focus on local ingredients, careful ageing, and inventive flavours. Some Canadian rum producers make rum using imported molasses, while others experiment with using Canadian sugar beets or honey. Many are also experimenting using Canadian oak or barrels previously used for whisky to age their rums, which gives them a different, interesting depth.
Below, we highlight Canadian rum producers that distil, age, or bottle rum in Canada, from large national brands to boutique distilleries.
Canadian Rum Brands
Newfoundland Distillery Co.
Manufacturing Location: Clarke’s Beach, Newfoundland & Labrador
Where to Buy: Liquor stores in Atlantic Canada and online
Key Details:
- Craft distilled
- Local Newfoundland botanicals
Newfoundland Distillery Co. is a Canadian company producing spirits, including rum, in small batches. Their rum is aged in barrels and made with traceable ingredients, with the company partnering with local growers and Newfoundland suppliers for their ingredients. The company takes a hands-on approach, fermenting, distilling, and ageing each batch on-site, making its rums truly Canadian-made.
Ironworks Distillery
Manufacturing Location: Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Where to Buy: NSLC locations, distillery shop, and online
Key Details:
- Canadian craft distillery
- Barrel-aged Atlantic rum
Ironworks Distillery is a Nova Scotia-based company, known for its maritime heritage and small-batch production. Their rums are distilled using imported molasses but fermented, double-distilled, and aged locally. Some barrels are aged aboard a floating ship, which enhances oxygenation and character. Ironworks focuses on traditional rum-making methods, copper stills, and long rest periods, creating warm, rounded flavours with spice, caramel, or dried fruit notes.
Wayward Distillery
Manufacturing Location: Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, BC
Where to Buy: BC Liquor and private stores across Western Canada
Key Details:
- Honey-based fermentation
- B-Corp certified company
Wayward Distillery produces spirits, including rum, fermented with honey sourced 100% within British Columbia. Using honey instead of sugarcane gives the rum a smooth, clean finish with natural notes of honey. Wayward works closely with local beekeepers, using only ethically sourced honey and supporting practices that promote hive health, biodiversity, and ecological balance. Their honey-fermented rums offer a twist on classic styles and celebrate local production.
Screech Rum (Newfoundland & Labrador Liquor Corporation)
Manufacturing Location: Jamaica and St. John’s, Newfoundland
Where to Buy: Liquor stores nationwide
Key Details:
- Iconic Canadian rum
- Blended and bottled in St John’s
Screech Rum is one of the most iconic rum brands in Canada. While the base rum is imported from Jamaica, Screech is blended, proofed and bottled in Newfoundland by a Canadian-owned company. The rum is known for its bold richness from the molasses, with deep caramel and oak tones. With roots going back to the early 1940s, Screech Rum has become embedded in Newfoundland culture and continues to attract rum drinkers who appreciate a spirited, full-flavoured expression.
Lamb’s Rum
Manufacturing Location: Overseas and Windsor, Ontario
Where to Buy: Liquor stores and online
Key Details:
- Heritage rum brand
- Roots date back to 1849
Lamb’s is a globally recognised rum brand that is blended and bottled in Windsor, Ontario. The rum has a long history, dating back to the 1840s in London, England, but today it is produced at the Hiram Walker distillery, which is one of the largest spirits facilities in the whole of North America. Lamb’s offers a range of flavour profiles, including spiced, dark, and navy-style and is known for its reliable, consistent quality.
Kinsip House of Fine Spirits
Manufacturing Location: Prince Edward County, Ontario
Where to Buy: Ontario LCBO and online within Ontario
Key Details:
- Small-batch craft distillery
- Barrel-aged rum
Kinsip House of Fine Spirits produces crafted spirits using careful blending and slow ageing. The distillery emphasises working with local growers, small-batch production, and on-site fermentation, which gives each bottle its own character. Their flavour profiles offer layers of warm spice, toasted sweetness, and vanilla, developed through a combination of traditional methods and Canadian innovation.
North of 7 Distillery
Manufacturing Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Where to Buy: Liquor stores and their distillery in Ontario
Key Details:
- Barrel-focused craft distillery
- Rum aged in-house
North of 7 Distillery, based in Ottawa, Ontario, ages rum on-site in a variety of barrels, which creates woody and slightly smoky flavours. The company operates on a small batch, slow ageing model to prioritise depth over volume. Their hands-on approach to distilling allows them to monitor each batch closely to ensure consistency and character of each bottle.
