Flaschengeist is an enthusiast of high-quality spirits - classics of whiskey and rum of all kinds. As a gifting company that pairs our unique liqueurs with popular spirit brands, we celebrate legendary spirits. Whether it's a bottle of whiskey or a specialty rum, Flaschengeist offers the perfect complement.

When it comes to spirits that represent Australia’s culture and heritage, few names come out and Bundaberg is one of them.

In this blog, we spotlight Bundaberg Campfire Rum, tour the Queensland distillery where it's made, and explore why Bundaberg Rum remains an Australian icon.

The Heart of Queensland: A Look at Bundaberg

Bundaberg, QLD, is located in the coastal region of Australia, in the middle of the rolling sugarcane lands- literally where the Great Barrier Reef starts. Bundaberg Rum is not only famous for its beaches and sea animals, but also for its historic sugarcane town. Bundaberg was the perfect location for a rum culture to commence, surrounded by cane fields and along the coast.

In reality, the initial distillers took advantage of the excess molasses from local mills (a former waste product) to produce rum, so Bundaberg was an ideal location for spirit production. The region had heat and sugarcane, which were favourable to distillation. To this day, Bundaberg is still referred to as a rum-distilling factory and a sugarcane heritage.

Bundaberg Rum: A National Icon

The history of Bundaberg Rum began in 1888 when a group of local cane farmers established the Bundaberg Distilling Company to utilize the molasses. In 1889, the first consignment of Bundaberg Rum left the line. 

The brand became fast and successful, and even though there were some setbacks, such as disastrous distillery fires in 1907 and another in 1936, the community began again and produced. When Bundy re-packaged the brand in 1961, it used a popular square bottle and a polar bear mascot (Bundy R. Bear).

Bundaberg Rum has, over the decades, become an integral part of Australian culture. To the readers, it is to Australians, as one writer puts it, what tequila is to Mexicans, a particularly local spirit. 

Today, Bundaberg is the bestseller on the domestic market (approaching 74% of all rum sold in Australia) and is even listed in the heritage list of the National Trust of Queensland. Simply put, Bundaberg Rum is not just a drink; it is a slice of Australia's spirit heritage, which can be consumed at home and recalled by expats living across the globe.

Spotlight on Bundaberg Campfire Rum

Bundaberg Campfire Rum is a quality rum with a smooth and smoky taste and is bourbon-barrel-finished. Bundaberg Campfire Rum was also launched in 2022 as a seasonal, limited edition, branded Winter Series, which was meant to remind the drinker of a warm evening, under the stars. 

It is a rich dark rum with the taste of burnt caramel and butterscotch, and is offset by the nutty richness of fire-toasted Australian macadamias. Stated differently, Campfire Rum is a beverage designed to capture the essence of a campfire party.

The non-lovers lament that Campfire Rum has a wonderful flavour, and it is smoky. It is primarily toasted-caramel, vanilla, and charred-oak smelling, with a few hints of smoked wood and toasted almonds.

It is sweeter than silky caramel and brown-sugar on the palate at first, but then it gets richer with the heavy smokiness of the burned bourbon casks. It ends long and warm, with the lingering touch of smoke, a drop or two of spice, and a whiff of oak. At least one of the reviewers thinks that it has a velvety texture and tastes as good on the rocks as straight.

Campfire Rum is especially suited for use because it is soft and sweet with a touch of smoke. It is fantastic over ice or in neat form, to emphasize the toasted caramel and vanilla flavours. It also blends easily, with a splash of cola, it becomes an uplifted rum highball, or ginger beer, creating a smoky Dark and Stormy that sounds very Bundaberg in a pre-mixed cocktail. Most drinkers just do it around the campfire: it goes well with hearty meals, such as grilled steak or even toasted marshmallows.

Behind the Scenes: The Bundaberg Rum Distillery Experience

This history is made alive by a visit to the Bundaberg distillery. The tour starts at the Bundaberg Rum Museum, which is found in a former bond store (an old rum-aging warehouse) on the grounds of the distillery. It is a self-directed and interactive museum, where you can take your own time to view exhibits and old fermentation vats of up to 75,000 litres, as well as experience the Bundaberg story in interactive displays, videos, and audio guides. (Admission comes typically with two rum tastings to prove your appetite)

Then comes a conducted tour of the functioning distillery. Informed guides walk you through the legendary 5-million-litre molasses well (which still receives additional molasses from the adjacent sugar mill) and into the fermentation room and distillation building. You get to know how Bundaberg makes its rum by fermenting it, distilling it twice, and aging it in giant wooden vats for at least two years. 

The last destination is the tasting bar, where customers can sample some of Bundaberg's finest rums. Simply put, the Bundaberg distillery tour, which starts with raw cane byproduct and progresses to a bottled beverage, is full of history and flavour to taste throughout.

Flaschengeist Meets Bundaberg

Flaschengeist proudly features Bundaberg Rum for several reasons. First, it's a real Australian drink. Flaschengeist deems Bundaberg Rum "a true-blue Aussie icon." Bundaberg's strong taste and well-known brand perfectly matched our goal of showcasing famous spirits. Bundaberg's handmade distillation and distinctive flavours, such as Campfire Rum, also go well with Flaschengeist's love of artisanal presentation.

The marriage of Bundaberg's liquid and Flaschengeist's presentation is evident in our gift offerings. Bundaberg Rum often appears in bespoke hampers and decanters on our site. For example, a signature Flaschengeist "Truck Bottle" (a 350 ml glass truck-shaped decanter) can be filled with aged Bundaberg Rum and comes packaged in our black gift box with shot glasses. 

On the same note, we sell Bundaberg bottles, as well as branded chocolates and liqueurs. In a word, Flaschengeist transforms the Bundaberg Rum myth into a customised present: the traditional Aussie spirit in a striking, collectible bottle.

It is worth mentioning that Bundaberg is not the only brand we showcase at Flaschengeist; we also have gifting opportunities, which include our unique liqueurs mixed with some well-known spirits. 

This combination of services highlights our focus on rum and whiskey brands. A Bundaberg Campfire Rum bottle may be placed on the shelf of a collector as a high-quality spirit beverage, which is commonly trusted in terms of its heritage and flavour.

The Rum for Every Occasion

Bundaberg Rum is flexible, and this is what makes it attractive. It can elevate standard times and drunken partying to new heights. A bottle of Bundaberg Campfire Rum warms cold nights in the rugged outback of Australia, or on a beach barbecue. It is sipped in a neat city cocktail bar or stirred in a classy beverage. 

One author notes how Bundaberg causes a certain nostalgia in Australians who think of barbecues on the beach and having a round of rum and Coke or sharing a bottle of Bundy (Bundaberg and Coke). Whether you're going on an adventure or having an outing with friends, Bundaberg Rum is the drink of the day. Its smoky, sweet flavor would equally feel welcome at a campfire or a city dinner table, so it is a familiar spirit at numerous occasions.

Where to Buy/Try

Bundaberg Campfire Rum is available through Flaschengeist's website and other Australian retailers. At Flaschengeist, you can purchase the rum in our curated gift sets or order custom decanters filled with Bundaberg (subject to local regulations). For a truly authentic taste, we also recommend a trip to the distillery in Bundaberg East. 

The Bundaberg Rum Distillery is open for tours (pre-booked online) nearly every day; visitors can walk through the museum, watch the rum-making process, and sample rums on site. It's a pilgrimage of sorts for enthusiasts, offering insight into how the liquid legend is crafted.

Conclusion

Bundaberg Rum has made its way out into the shelves of every spirit lover since its modest beginnings as a by-product of sugar mills, to its current day creative applications. Campfire Rum is a well-justified embodiment of the Australian strong attitude. It is sticky, permissive, and smoky, and reminds one of sitting by the fire with companions.

It is an indication that the Bundaberg 130-year legacy is not only alive but also reinventing the meaning of what a great rum can be. Bundaberg Campfire Rum is worth considering for fans of premium spirits, either in a Coke or a fine Australian rum. It is its heritage and flavour that ensure that it attracts first-time rum drinkers and long-time rum lovers alike.

Testimonials

"I loved the craftsmanship. My custom motorbike bottle was the best Father's Day gift ever, and now it's a keepsake."

— Melanie McKay

"Beautifully wrapped gifts that are truly unique." I love the bottles and the flavour. I definitely suggest these!

—Charlotte Johnson

"Great, one-of-a-kind gift ideas that are packaged so well." Just as the picture—would buy again!

— Ilsa Manning

"The soccer ball whisky bottle was great. I really liked the concepts of unique gift designs. The shipping was really quick. Great work! I highly recommend.

– Luca Morgan

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is Bundaberg Rum company located in Australia?

A: Bundaberg Rum is a well-established Australian brand that has a history in the country. It remains true-blue Australian; however, in 2000, it was sold to the British alcohol company Diageo. One should not forget that Bundaberg Brewed Drinks and Bundaberg Ginger Beer are two Australian firms that have been under the Fleming family since 1960.

Q: How should I serve Campfire Rum?

A: When you say Campfire Rum (a spiced or smoky rum), there is no correct way to serve it, but the following are some of the fantastic ideas:

In an opulent and deep-flavoured rum, it is terrific in traditional cocktails such as an Old-Fashioned or a Rum Manhattan, or to have in colder weather, say at the campfire.

In the event of smokiness or spiciness, tricks bartenders use include:

• Coating the glass with cinnamon sticks lit by smoke, or 

• Charring rosemary sprigs with a torch adds aromatic smokiness. ·

Themed cocktail twist: Consider a cocktail that resembles a smoky daiquiri, such as a Smoked Daiquiri, for a unique drink to try. Or you could garnish Campfire Rum neat, with a small orange slice or a cinnamon stick. It's excellent to sip beside a real campfire.

Q: Can I make Flaschengeist bottles memorable for someone else?

A: Yes! Flaschengeist is well-known for its unique designs and hand-filled bottles, especially for those who like customised gifts. Our collections have been sorted by occasion, feelings, and people. Most of the bottles come in fun shapes, such as motorbikes, soccer balls, or heart-shaped ones, and can be mixed and matched with various liqueurs. They are beautifully packaged in attractive boxes, making them a good gift anytime.

Q: How long does the delivery take?

A: Every order is hand-filled with a turnaround time of two business days from the time the order is placed. The time of delivery varies with your location in Australia. Standard shipping takes typically 4-7 working days. We take great care in packaging so that your orders arrive in perfect condition. We do not offer express shipping.