Bundaberg Rum facts for kids
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| Manufacturer | Diageo |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Introduced | 1888 |
| Colour | Dark and White |
| Website | http://www.bundabergrum.com.au |
Bundaberg Rum, often called Bundy, is a type of dark rum. It is made by the Bundaberg Distilling Company in Bundaberg East, Queensland, Australia. A big company called Diageo owns it. In 2010, the Bundaberg Distilling Company was honored by being added to the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.
Contents
History of Bundaberg Rum
Bundaberg Rum started because local sugar mills had a problem. They had a lot of leftover molasses after making sugar. Molasses is heavy and hard to move, and turning it into animal feed was often too expensive. So, the sugar makers began to think about making a profit by distilling it.
A very important meeting happened at the Royal Hotel on August 1, 1885. Many big sugar mill owners were there. They decided to start a company with £5,000. These owners became the first directors of the company.
The Bundaberg Distilling Company began working in 1888. The first Bundaberg Rum was made in 1889. Production stopped for a few years after fires. One fire in 1936 caused rum to spill into the nearby Burnett River. This sadly caused many fish to die in the river.
A company called Christsen Pty Ltd used to bottle Bundaberg Rum in Bundaberg. The shape of today's "Bundy Bottle" came from old Bushells Coffee bottles. People in Bundaberg would sell these empty bottles to Christsen Pty Ltd. The bottles were then cleaned and filled with rum. The bottle shape is still the same, but it now holds 700ml. The Christsen family often hired staff who were part of The Salvation Army. This was because they believed these staff members would be less likely to try the rum while working. The Christsen family also helped local farming families during tough times. A park called Christsen Park at Bargara Beach was named after them.
In 1961, the company chose a polar bear as its mascot. This was a unique choice! The idea was to show that the rum could help you feel warm even in the coldest weather.
In 2000, the Bundaberg Rum company and its distillery were sold to a British company called Diageo. In 2014, Diageo decided to move some of the bottling work for Bundaberg Rum to Huntingwood in Sydney. This meant some jobs were lost in Bundaberg.
This decision caused some upset in Queensland. The Premier, Campbell Newman, said it was disappointing, especially for a region that had faced bad floods. The mayor of Bundaberg, Mal Forman, was also sad about the news.
A spokesperson for Diageo explained that some special products would still be bottled in Bundaberg. They said the move was needed to help the distillery stay strong in the long run. Diageo said they are still very dedicated to Bundaberg and will keep making, aging, and blending rum there, just as they have for over 125 years.
Visiting the Distillery
The Bundaberg Rum distillery welcomes visitors for tours. There is also a museum where visitors can learn about the history and even try some of the Bundaberg Rum products. Outside the bond store, you can see the Big Bundy Bottle, which is a giant bottle landmark. A new, larger visitor center opened in August 2016.
In 2009, as part of the Q150 celebrations (which celebrated 150 years of Queensland), the Bundaberg Rum Distillery was named one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland. This was because of its important role as a "location" in the state's history.
Different Types of Bundaberg Rum
Bundaberg Rum makes many different kinds of rum. Here are some of them:
- Bundaberg Rum UP
- Bundaberg Rum Original 100 Proof
- Bundaberg Rum Overproof
- Bundaberg Red
- Bundaberg Red 100 Proof
- Bundaberg Five
- Bundaberg Select Vat Aged 6 Years
- Bundaberg Mutiny Spiced Rum
- Master Distillers' Collection Small Batch
- Master Distillers' Collection Small Batch – Vintage Barrel
- Master Distillers Collection 280
- Master Distillers Collection Black Barrel – Distilled 2004 – Black Glass
- Master Distillers Collection Black Barrel – Distilled 2004 – Clear Glass
- Master Distillers Collection Black Barrel – Distilled 2005 – Clear Glass
- Master Distillers Collection Blenders Edition 2014
- Master Distillers Collection Blenders Edition 2015
- Bundaberg Tropics – Pineapple & Coconut
- Bundaberg Royal Liqueur Banana and Toffee
- Bundaberg Royal Liqueur Coffee and Chocolate
- Bundy Wings Heritage Label Original
Sponsorships
Bundaberg Rum is a big sponsor of the Australian Wallabies rugby union team. They also sponsor the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series. They support the NSW Waratahs rugby team too. Bundaberg Rum used to sponsor the rugby league ANZAC Test until 2009. They also signed a five-year deal with the NRL to be the official dark rum of the NRL. They are also the main sponsor for NRL Friday Night Football.
From 2009 to 2011, Bundaberg Rum sponsored the V8 Supercar team Walkinshaw Racing.
Awards and Recognition
Bundaberg Rum has won many awards. In 2011, Bundaberg Rum launched its Master Distillers' Collective rum. The first three types from this collection won awards around the world.
Advertising Campaigns
Bundaberg Rum has created many advertisements. A series of ads featured the Bundaberg Rum bear, a polar bear known as Bundy R. Bear. These ads were made to connect the product with a fun, friendly Australian spirit. The Bundaberg Rum bear first appeared in 1961. It was designed to make the rum brand seem less serious and more appealing to a wider group of people.
See also
- Bundaberg Brewed Drinks
- Alcohol Advertising
- ANZAC Test
- Beenleigh Rum
- List of rum producers
- 1936 Bundaberg distillery fire
