Red Mill Rum has opened its working distillery and barrel hall in Sydney’s White Bay as a bar on Saturdays.

The revived Sydney harbourside rum brand originally founded in 1933 will host Red Mill Saturday sessions every Saturday, giving guests the chance to order every rum the distiller has ever made, including releases that have long sold out, alongside a cocktail list built around Red Mill’s own spirits. 

Previously accessible only through tours and private events, the sweeping industrial space has been fitted out with a nine-metre steel beam bar and custom high-top timber tables set amongst the barrels. Red Mill’s new bar will begin trading Saturdays from 12pm-6pm, with no booking required. The bar will open additional days in 2027. 

Visitors can try a pour of the 2025 Sami-Odi release, named Spirit of the Year by The Australian, alongside Endeavour sea-aged rum, the 193-bottle Tom Thumb’s Reserve, and other past releases that would otherwise be near impossible to track down. 

Founder and distiller David Fesq said: “We always intended to open the distillery as a bar, and we wanted people to be able to come in and experience everything we’ve made, not just what’s currently available to buy.

“So we’ve been putting bottles aside from every release, even when the rum has long sold out. Some of these bottles are pretty special, and we wanted people to have a chance to actually sit down and drink them.” 

Leading the cocktail list is a Mai Tai created in collaboration with Sydney bar Old Love. The recipe is Old Love’s, the rum is Red Mill’s and even the curacao is made onsite by the Red Mill team. Fresh Daiquiris will be shaken with Red Mill Gold, Coconut or Pineapple Rum, alongside slushies for summer and long drinks designed to make the most of a good rum and mixer.

The distillery’s Ginger, Lemon & Spiced usually found in a can will also be on tap, as will a new limited edition Pineapple, Lime and Coconut beverage on tap for summer. 

The menu will move with the seasons, featuring slushie cocktails for summer and hot buttered rum for the winter months. 

For those looking to explore beyond the cocktail list, a selection of flights offers a deeper dive into Red Mill’s cask-heavy barrel hall, alongside the collaboration amaros it created with Vespertine, The Dry Dock and Continental Deli.

All drinks are served with complimentary rum-inspired snacks including spiced nuts, corn and crisps as well as a charcuterie board from Butchers Daughter available for purchase. 

The Red Mill Rum Distiller bar will expand opening hours in 2027, along with a more substantial food offering, including a rotating line-up of guest chefs.