Flensburger Rum

In the 18. century Flensburg was one of the most important commercial ports of the Danish West Indies fleet. The ships set sails for the three Virgin Islands, at that time Danish property, in the West Indies: St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. The rum was being distilled on the islands (still is today), then shipped to Flensburg, where the strong brew was blended and refined. The brownish colour was attained by keeping the rum in wooden barrels. During the heydays of rum, Flensburg had more than 200 rum houses. 

Rum-Sugar-Tour
Would you like to know more about the interesting and unusual history of rum production? Feel free to ask our colleagues at the tourist information about our rum and sugar tours. We have public tours all year round with different themes, but mostly on the rum production and the stories behind it. Coming with a group, you might as well book a guided tour through the city, while you are at it; just pick your theme and date. A visit to a rum house and a sample of the liquid Nordic Gold will be included. 

Rum Museum at the Schifffahrtsmuseum
Actually, in the days, the „Pure Rum“ was stored in the cellar vaults of the National Maritime Museum - the customs' old warehouse. Today, you will find the Rum Museum down here, situated in a modern multimedia-installation cellar. Here, you go on a trip to the past on a search of clues to Flensburg’s former significant and rich merchant families. It is a tale of adventure, of oceans, of the Danish West Indies, of the horrors of slavery, the shady side and the riches, that were brought to prospering Flensburg by means of rum and sugar.

Rum Houses Braasch ans Johannsen 
Today, there are still two rum houses that keep the tradition alive: One of them is the Braasch wine and rum house in Rote Straße with its own museum. The Braasch Rum Manufaktur Museum offers an overview of the transatlantic triangular trade, Flensburg's rum history and the production and manufacture of sugar and rum. 
Tip: Book our city tour ‘Rum History and Southern Old Town’, which includes a guided tour of the museum.

The other is the Johannsen Rum House in Marien Straße. It is the oldest rum house still in operation. Here you can taste and buy rum. Guided tours take place in the production area and in the warehouse. Our city tour ‘Flensburg rum history - from Johannsen to Braasch’ offers an exciting journey through Flensburg's rum history and can be booked for groups.

Rum and Sugar Mile
Follow the signposted Rum and Sugar Mile to gain insights in Flensburg’s rum-history. Via 20 stations, the course will lead you through the old town in search of glory, fame, and shame of the rum-period. Affectionately tended merchants’ houses and office buildings in the old quarter stand tall, as imposing contemporary witnesses of bygone days. A great thing is, you are able to choose and conduct this tour according to your own mind - single, or in a group of people.