Making Alaskan Rum
Famous for snow and endless miles of untouched forest, Alaska is a far cry from the Caribbean, rum’s country of origin. However, Alaska and the West Indies share one thing in common: a life built around the sea. Alaska produces more seafood than all other US states combined and is home to many adventurous fishermen. Rum has a long history on the open ocean, dating back to 1655 when the British Royal Navy first instituted the famous rum ration. Water was not safe to drink at sea, as it quickly became rancid and was often taken from polluted rivers. When the beer ran out, rum was given to sailors as their drink. From pirates to fishermen, rum has been the spirit of choice for those who spend their days at sea for hundreds of years. At Port Chilkoot Distillery, we created our Seaworthy Rum to honor those who embark on the wild waters.
Our Alaskan rum is made in the traditional fashion, with a few distinct modifications that make it unique to Port Chilkoot Distillery. Fermented from 100% organic Columbian Panela Cane sugar and yeast, Seaworthy is double distilled in small batches on site. Once off the still, we age Seaworthy in our old Boatwright Bourbon oak barrels to add extra rich and complex flavors, infusing the rum with the flavor of Alaska whiskey and softness of the wood. The resulting liquid is golden and smooth, with notes of toasted sugarcane and caramel. We chose to produce an aged rum specifically to capture these subtleties — with a lower proof than white rum and our meticulous aging process, Seaworthy rum is unlike any other.
Made at our Haines distillery, Seaworthy Rum is currently only available in Alaska. Find a bottle at one of our retail partners, or stop by our Tasting Room to enjoy straight from the source! This limited release is one to savor, and our Alaskan rum can be enjoyed in a myriad of ways. Sip neat or on ice as you would a premium bourbon, or mix into one of our signature Port Chilkoot cocktails - recipes below!
Seaworthy Mai Tai
1.5 oz Seaworthy Rum
.75 oz fresh lime juice
.5 oz orange curacao
.5 oz orgeat
Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice and garnish with mint, orange and a cocktail cherry.
Our version of the classic Piña Colada is shaken with a touch of orgeat for a rich, nutty flavor and an extra creamy texture.
Pina Colada
1.5 oz Seaworthy Rum
1 oz Coco Lopez
.75 pineapple juice
.5 lime juice
.25 orgeat
2 dash Angostura bitters
Add all ingredients to the cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a highball glass and garnish with a pineapple wedge, cocktail cherry, and pineapple leaf.