Tavern Style Rum

Turkey Shore Distilleries LLC was formed in 2010 in the historic coastal town of Ipswich, Massachusetts by two childhood friends and locals, Mat Perry and Evan Parker. Micro-distilling is a movement that was sweeping the nation. Research revealed a distillery that operated in Ipswich during the colonial days. That distillery owned by John Heard, which operated from 1770-1836, was located on the street that both Mat and Evan grew up on (Turkey Shore Road) and that the barrels of molasses that originated in the West Indies were unloaded at an old wharf called Hunt’s Wharf, located in Mat’s back yard along the Ipswich River. The molasses and rum were then rolled back and forth across the street from Hunt’s Wharf to the distillery. Furthermore, the manager of the distillery, Nathaniel Heard (John’s brother) lived in Mat’s house. Upon this discovery of a personal connection, Turkey Shore Distilleries was reborn. Now, more than175 years later, Turkey Shore Distilleries once again sits along the banks of the Ipswich River ready to revive the ancient tradition of producing New England rum!
In colonial days New Englanders discovered the joys of barrel aged rums almost by mistake. Those rums that spent time in American oak barrels took on a whole new character. Old Ipswich Tavern Rum is a recreation of this more refined spirit. It combines the great flavors of our White Cap rum with the more robust notes of new White Oak barrels.