Can you make your own rum?
Yes — but probably not the way you think. Home distilling is illegal, but blending and flavouring your own rum is not. Here is how it works.
Yes. But first an honest caveat, because it saves you a fine.
Distilling: not at home
In Belgium (and almost everywhere in Europe) distilling alcohol at home is illegal without a licence. A still on the stove is off the table — which is just as well, because badly distilled spirit can be dangerous.
What you CAN do: blend and infuse
What is allowed, and surprisingly creative: take existing rum as a starting point and make it your own. That is what professional blending houses like ours do every day:
- Blending — combining different rums into a flavour that exists nowhere else.
- Infusing — steeping rum with botanicals: vanilla, cinnamon, dried fruit, coffee, cacao.
- Finishing — fine-tuning sweetness, texture and strength.
Legally this is not a new distillation, but it is 100% your recipe.
How far can you take it?
Far. With three base bottles and a handful of botanicals you can already create dozens of profiles at home. In our blending house in Kortrijk we go further: dozens of rum components, cask influences and professional guidance.
Want the real thing? In the Build Your Rum workshop you compose your own rum in about 2 hours, design the label and take your bottle home. Or experiment first with our bottle designer.
Rather hold the shaker yourself?
Everything you read here, we do live with your group. Check the open seats or ask our bartender.
