Sea Hagg Rum

Taste of the Caribbean

Heather Hughes dreamed of bottling the Caribbean and bringing it back to New Hampshire. Instead, she decided to make it herself.

Hughes hatched the idea for the Sea Hagg Distillery while sitting on a tropical beach with a good rum punch, and now she crafts her own spirits by the beaches of North Hampton.

Like the lure of the sea, the lure of microdistillation called to her, and the Sea Hagg Distillery embraces the feel of a boutique, producing small batches of artisan spirits with high-quality, local ingredients.

"People in New Hampshire and beyond like to support local businesses, and they are curious about tasting small batch spirits that are often made in a different way than the big industry," Hughes says.

Her spirits, including Sea Hagg Silver Rum, are fermented, distilled and aged on site, using a traditional copper alembic pot still, then bottled and wax dip sealed by hand.

Hughes spent almost a year researching and educating herself on the business and craft of microdistillation. She describes distilling as a dynamic combination of jobs: science and art, sales and marketing, history and lore, and of course, rum.

"I like rum," Hughes says. "It is a fun and slightly irreverent spirit."

The Sea Hagg Distillery currently makes Silver Rum, available at their Rte. 1 location in North Hampton. Amber, Dark, and Spiced Rums will be available in select stores by early fall.