Australian Women in Rum Industry: Pioneering Change with Every Pour
In a recent feature by Forbes Australia, we discovered the inspiring stories of Australian women who are making waves in the rum industry. At TheRumLab, we believe in amplifying such impactful narratives. While this is not our original reporting, we are pleased to share and celebrate the accomplishments highlighted by Forbes Australia.
Back in 2015, Chanel Melani and Sally Carter envisioned a new life up the coast of Australia. At the time, craft gin was booming, but rum had its heart. For Carter, a former army officer and country girl, rum brought back memories. Melani, passionate about inclusion and change, saw an opportunity to challenge the industry’s male-dominated culture.
Embracing Opportunity and Building Skills
Soon after voicing their dream, Carter landed a procurement role at Brookfarm, which owned Cape Byron Distillery. The couple relocated to northern New South Wales in 2016, settling in the southernmost region of Australia’s sugarcane belt. Although rum production had to wait, the groundwork had begun.
By 2021, Melani left her digital marketing career to dive fully into their distilling venture. She conducted research, connected with experts, and built a business plan. Together, the pair earned their WSET Level 2 certification, trained their palates, and experimented with global rum styles. Every step brought them closer to launching their own label.
Introducing Birds of Isle: A New Approach to Rum
Inspired by lighter, Spanish-style rums, Melani and Carter developed Birds of Isle, a blend of five Venezuelan rums aged between two and eight years. They finished the blend in fortified wine barrels from the Barossa Valley, adding a local touch by soaking bunya nuts in the rum. Their product debuted in December 2023, offering a refined alternative to Australia’s traditionally dark, heavy rum.
From Craft to Cocktails: Breaking Stereotypes One Sip at a Time
Melani and Carter introduced Birds of Isle to top venues like Brisbane’s The Gresham and Death & Taxes, as well as Sydney’s NOMAD and Bennelong. However, building a following wasn’t easy. Tastings revealed lingering bias.
To support growth, they launched a crowdfunded equity campaign, joining a growing number of women-led ventures leveraging community investment to scale their impact.
Community and Competition in the Cane Belt
From their base in Pottsville, Carter and Melani work within a thriving rum scene that includes Husk Distillers, Cape Byron, Lord Byron Distillery, and Soltera Rum, run by journalist-turned-distiller Keri Algar. This local network showcases the strength of Australian women in the rum industry.
At Hoochery Distillery in Western Australia, Kalyn Fletcher carries on her family legacy with the help of head distiller Margaret Lyons. Together, they produce nearly 200,000 liters of rum annually and lead a team predominantly made up of women.
“I don’t know why, but I find it easier to manage women,” Fletcher admits. She modernized the brand after her father’s passing while maintaining its original recipe and expanding its product line to include gin.
A Shift in the Spirits Industry
Although Fletcher hasn’t seen a dramatic rise in female distillers, she recognizes a growing interest among women in food and agri-tourism. “Women are more open to trying new things and embracing the ‘drink better, drink less’ mentality,” she says.
Meanwhile, Women of Australian Distilling, a collective promoting gender diversity, continues to open doors for women in distillation, blending, and entrepreneurship.
The Future of Rum is Female
As Melani and Carter push forward, they believe Australian rum is on the cusp of a renaissance. With sugarcane as the country’s second-largest export crop, the potential for local rum mirrors the prestige of Scotch in Scotland.
Celebrating Leaders in the Australian Women in the Rum Industry
- Sarah Watson, head of innovation at Bundaberg Rum, brings a scientific edge to Australia’s biggest rum brand.
- Keri Algar independently runs Soltera Rum near Cabarita Beach.
- Kalyn Fletcher and Margaret Lyons at Hoochery Distillery continue producing award-winning spirits in the remote Kimberley.
Together, these women are not just distilling rum — they’re reshaping its future.
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Source of information
Forbes Australia Article — Meet the women shaking up Australia’s rum industry
The image of the article is courtesy of © Baona via Canva.com
