New Yarmouth distillery

Introduction to New Yarmouth

A Distillery with a Passion for Craftsmanship

New Yarmouth is a historic Jamaican rum distillery that represents the quintessential marriage between traditional craftsmanship and distinctive character. Located in the parish of Clarendon, this distillery has established a reputation for producing some of Jamaica’s most characterful and ester-rich rums – created with meticulous attention to fermentation, distillation techniques, and the island’s unique terroir.

Despite operating largely in the shadows, New Yarmouth’s contribution to premium rum production has been significant, with its output forming the backbone of several respected rum brands worldwide.

Why We Have a Soft Spot for New Yarmouth

At Vault of Spirits, we cherish distilleries that maintain authentic production methods while creating truly distinctive flavor profiles. New Yarmouth stands out for its unusually long fermentation periods and specialized distillation techniques that produce exceptionally high-ester rums – the mark of traditional Jamaican distilling at its finest.

The distillery’s commitment to preserving historic production methods results in rums with remarkable complexity and depth that cannot be replicated by modern, accelerated processes.

The History Behind New Yarmouth

Origin and Development

New Yarmouth Distillery was established in the 1920s in Clarendon, Jamaica. It began with a vision to create distinctive Jamaican rums with character and intensity. Throughout its history, the distillery has remained relatively low-profile while steadily producing rums that have gained appreciation among connoisseurs and blenders alike.

The distillery’s historical significance lies in its preservation of traditional Jamaican distillation methods through changing times and shifting rum production trends.

The People Behind the Distillery

New Yarmouth is currently operated by Appleton Estate as part of the J. Wray & Nephew portfolio under the Campari Group. The master distillers and production team maintain a deep commitment to the traditional methods that have defined Jamaican rum for generations.

Each batch reflects the expertise and dedication of professionals who understand that true Jamaican rum requires patience, precision, and respect for heritage production techniques.

The Craft and Production

From Raw Material to Finished Product

Production at New Yarmouth begins with molasses derived from locally grown Jamaican sugarcane. The distillery employs a distinctive approach to fermentation, utilizing wild yeasts and a process that can extend from several days to weeks – significantly longer than most modern rum productions.

This extended fermentation creates a remarkably flavored “wash” with high levels of esters and congeners. Distillation takes place primarily on their famous Vendome pot stills, which help capture the rich, full-bodied character that defines their style.

Maturation and Aging

The new make spirit from New Yarmouth is aged in ex-bourbon oak barrels in Jamaica’s tropical climate, where the interaction between spirit and wood accelerates dramatically compared to cooler regions. This tropical aging imparts deep color and concentrated flavors while the angels claim their substantial share.

While some New Yarmouth rum is bottled as single-origin expressions, much of the distillery’s output traditionally serves as a key component in premium blends, providing structure and complexity to various branded products.

Selected Products from New Yarmouth

Independent Bottlings – A Window into New Yarmouth’s Character

Due to New Yarmouth’s focus on producing rum for blending, the best way to experience their pure distillery character is through independent bottlers who occasionally release single-cask expressions. These bottles showcase the distillery’s trademark notes of tropical fruits, banana, pineapple, and the distinctive “funk” that Jamaican rum enthusiasts prize.

When available, these expressions provide a rare opportunity to taste the undiluted character of this historically significant distillery.

Appleton Estate Blends – Containing New Yarmouth DNA

Many Appleton Estate premium expressions contain New Yarmouth distillate as part of their careful blend. These bottles offer enthusiasts a chance to experience New Yarmouth’s contribution to a balanced, refined final product.

The high-ester content from New Yarmouth provides these blends with depth and complexity that could not be achieved otherwise.

Visit the Distillery

Tours and Tastings

New Yarmouth does not typically offer public tours as it operates primarily as a production facility rather than a visitor attraction. Rum enthusiasts interested in Jamaican rum production can instead visit the Appleton Estate Rum Experience, which showcases many of the traditional production methods also employed at New Yarmouth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is New Yarmouth?

New Yarmouth is a historic Jamaican rum distillery located in Clarendon parish that specializes in producing high-ester, characterful rums using traditional Jamaican distillation methods. Their approach combines classic fermentation techniques with pot still distillation to create distinctive flavor profiles that are highly sought after for premium rum production.

Where is New Yarmouth located?

The distillery is situated in Clarendon, Jamaica. The tropical climate of Jamaica plays a crucial role in both fermentation characteristics and the accelerated aging process that gives New Yarmouth rums their distinct profile.

What characterizes New Yarmouth rum?

New Yarmouth is particularly known for its high-ester rums with robust flavor profiles featuring tropical fruit notes, spice, and the characteristic Jamaican “funk” (locally called “hogo”). The distillery’s long fermentation times and traditional pot still distillation create a spirit with remarkable complexity and intensity that provides an authentic expression of traditional Jamaican rum.

Where can I buy rum from New Yarmouth?

You can find select bottlings featuring New Yarmouth rum at Vault of Spirits. We carefully source the most interesting expressions – including rare independent bottlings – to provide you access to this historically significant distillery’s output. While pure New Yarmouth bottlings are relatively rare, they represent a truly authentic taste of Jamaican rum heritage.