The Rum Story Shop has held an important place at the heart of Whitehaven for over 200 years.
The Jefferson family first began selling wines, spirits and – most importantly – rum in the 18th century from the very premises on Lowther Street where our shop still stands today.
Back then Whitehaven was a booming trading port and the Jefferson’s imported wine from Spain and Portugal and rum from the West Indies and sold it all over England. But the Jeffersons weren’t just merchants, they were involved in every aspect of life in the area; working in local government, banking, railways, shipping and the courts. Today we take our place in the community just as seriously, but we tend to find our products a little closer to home.
The Lake District is home to lots of fantastic people making rum, gin and vodka, not to mention all the beers and delicious conserves and fudge. We spend our time trying everything our area has to offer and then picking the best to put in the Rum Story Shop. We do it because we care about people. We know just how hard all our local producers work and it’s fun helping them find new customers like you.
Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners own and manage the shop, which means when you buy something, all the profits go towards improving the Rum Story Experience museum next door, as well as keeping Whitehaven harbour looking beautiful. A little purchase really does go a long way towards making a difference in our town.
The Rum Story Shop is the only place where you can buy Jefferson’s Rum, a special recipe which has been on sale in Whitehaven since 1785. It’s one of the oldest trademarked rums in the UK and the first rum to be supplied to the Royal Navy as well as to the White Star Line, owners of the ill-fated Titanic.
We hope you enjoy the products from the shop just as much as we enjoyed choosing them. Remember to get in touch if you’ve got any questions and ask us if you want help putting together a special hamper of goodies – we love doing that.
Jefferson’s 1785 Extra Fine Dark Rum
Aged in oak casks to release its full complexity of flavour, this deliciously well-balanced rum is a faithful recreation of the original spirit first sold in the very premises where our shop still stands today.
Enjoy it over ice or in a cocktail and you’ll soon appreciate why both the Royal Navy and the White Star Line, owners of the ill-fated Titanic, saw fit to serve it on the high seas.
