Throughout 2024 The Fynoderee Distillery has been a Spirits Partner to the RNLI 200 Anniversary. With the launch of Fynoderee Manx Dry Gin – RNLI Edition last year we have with your support, already raised over £10,000.00 in funds for the life-saving institution and we hope to “super charge” that amount with our much anticipated launch of REFUGE MANX RUM.

The environment in which resting spirits are aged has a profound effect on the nuances of their flavour and this iconic storm lashed location has imbued our rich, smooth rum with a maritime minerality leading to tasting notes of toasted oak, vanilla, salted caramel and bourbon.  Refuge Manx Rum has developed a beautiful and natural light amber colour during its time maturing in the Tower.

During the year we have been making occasional trips to check on the condition of the barrels and dip the contents to monitor their developing flavours. The most recent of these trips was in the company of the Isle of Man's Lieutenant Governor, His Excellency Sir John Lorimer, Lady Lorimer, and their guests, on the 12th September 2024. A cask was dipped and a sample tasted by our intrepid guests and sipped neat over ice. On this trip we noticed that some of the hoops on the casks have suffered considerable corrosion due to the extreme marine environment but we are pleased to say the rum tasted fabulous and we will be uplifting the rum from the Tower in mid October to then take back to the Distillery for bottling.

Paul Kerruish, co-founder, The Fynoderee Distillery said:

‘We hope that this very special rum will generate a significant amount for the RNLI and provide the perfect ‘tot’ for everyone who wishes to salute all those brave RNLI crew members past and present who have saved lives at sea over the generations.’

‘As proud artisans, Refuge Manx Rum has been made from ‘scratch’ here on the Isle of Man to give it a real sense of place and belonging. Instead of molasses we have used panela sourced from a co-operative farmer in Colombia, which is the nearest thing we can get here on the Island to using freshly squeezed sugar cane juice.  

Refuge Manx Rum can be enjoyed neat over ice or can be mixed to make delicious aperitif cocktails. 

Our favourite is a “Refuge Manx Rum Old Fashioned”. This was the cocktail served to the Isle of Man Lieutenant Governor, His Excellency Sir John Lorimer, Lady Lorimer, and their guests on their recent visit to the Tower.

The “Refuge Manx Rum” Old Fashioned

Ingredients (serves 1)
50ml Refuge Manx Rum
10ml sugar syrup
Dashes of orange/angostura bitters
Ice
Twist of orange peel

Step 1
Using a mixing glass or jug, stir together half the rum, the sugar syrup and bitters with several ice cubes until the mixing glass turns cold. Add the remaining rum and more ice and continue to stir.

Step 2
Prepare a rocks glass with a single large ice cube or several smaller cubes and strain over the drink. Garnish with a twist of orange peel and absorb the positively charged historic atmosphere. Where else could be more appropriate for an RNLI fund-raising cask aged spirit to age than the Tower of Refuge itself!

Distillery co-founder Tiffany Kerruish explained the origins of their RNLI Coastal Collection:

“The idea to produce commemorative spirits from the birthplace of the RNLI came from members of RNLI Ramsey, our local lifeboat station.”

“We recognised the unique provenance and potential to not only generate substantial funds for the RNLI for the historic anniversary, but also to provide the perfect tipples for raising a glass to all those who have saved lives at sea over the generations.”

Positioned centrally in the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man has a tremendous sea-faring history, boasting many famous mariners such as Captain John Quilliam (HMS Victory).

It was on the Isle of Man in 1824 that philanthropist Sir William Hillary was inspired to create what was originally known as the National Institution of the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck after witnessing devastating scenes from his home in Douglas, overlooking the then dangerous island coastline for mariners.

The Isle of Man now has five lifeboat stations, saving countless lives in the Irish Sea, and his Institution went on to become the RNLI as we know it today, with 238 lifeboat stations that operate around the UK and Ireland. 

Heroic rescuer of shipwrecked mariners, Sir William Hilary founded the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and was behind the building of the Tower of Refuge in Douglas Bay, Isle of Man.

A Yorkshireman by birth, William Hillary came to the Isle of Man in 1808 and eventually established a home at Fort Anne, overlooking Douglas Bay. This was an ideal vantage point from which to appreciate the dangers faced by sailors in the treacherous Irish Sea.

In 1822, Hillary took charge of the rescue of 97 men from the Royal Navy cutter, Vigilant, which had been blown aground on the Conister Rocks as she tried to leave Douglas in a storm. This, and the subsequent sinking off Langness of the Brig Racehorse, led him to write to the Admiralty in London seeking pensions for the families of three Manxmen who had died saving the Racehorse crew, and proposing the formation of a National Institution for the Preservation of Lives and Property from Shipwreck.

After being advised that it would be better to make the venture a philanthropical one, Hillary eventually succeeded in launching his National Institution with King George IV as Patron. His organisation later became the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Hillary was also instrumental in the building in 1832 of the Tower of Refuge on the Conister Rock, to provide shelter for any seamen whose ships run aground there.

None have done so since that day, but the tower remains as his main memorial.

Sir William Hillary is buried on The Isle of Man at St Georges Church in Douglas. More can be found out about him here.

Find out more about the Tower of Refuge here.