Fynoderee Refuge Rum - 70cl - 45%ABV

To mark 200 years since Sir William Hillary founded the RNLI on the Isle of Man, we created this Limited Edition Refuge Rum in partnership with the RNLI. Celebrating the charity’s Isle of Man origins, this special release honours two centuries of lifesaving service while supporting the RNLI’s vital work around our coasts.

This unique fundraising rum has been made from scratch in our distillery in Ramsey and barrel aged for 12 months inside the sea soaked walls of the Tower of Refuge in Douglas Bay. 

Each limited edition bottle is individually numbered and features a stunning label illustrated by local artist Julia Ashby Smyth. The bottles are presented in a hand-crafted commemorative solid wooden crate and accompanied by a beautifully designed souvenir booklet detailing the Isle of Man’s role in the formation of the RNLI and the production story behind Refuge Manx Rum.

20% of the sale price of this bottle are given directly to the RNLI.

Fynoderee Refuge Rum is a limited-edition release, fermented and distilled at the Fynoderee Distillery in Ramsey using organic Colombian panela. From there, it embarked on a remarkable journey to its resting place within the iconic Tower of Refuge, travelling via some of the Isle of Man’s most cherished heritage transport.

Once at the Tower, the rum was filled into first-fill bourbon quarter casks and securely stowed to mature for 12 months. The environment in which a spirit ages plays a profound role in shaping its character, and this storm-lashed maritime landmark has left its unmistakable mark on the rum.

Exposed to the elements and surrounded by the Irish Sea, the casks have imparted a distinctive maritime minerality that complements the rum’s naturally rich and smooth profile. The result is a beautifully balanced spirit with notes of toasted oak, vanilla, salted caramel and bourbon.

During its time maturing within the Tower, it has developed a naturally beautiful light amber hue, reflecting both its bourbon cask influence and its extraordinary coastal ageing environment.

Positioned in the heart of the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man has a proud maritime heritage, forged through centuries of seafaring. Among its most famous mariners was Captain John Quilliam of HMS Victory, yet the island’s most enduring maritime legacy came through Sir William Hillary, whose vision led to the creation of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

In the early 19th century, the waters surrounding the Isle of Man were notoriously dangerous for mariners. From his home at Fort Anne overlooking Douglas Bay, Sir William Hillary regularly witnessed ships battling severe weather and treacherous coastal conditions.

In 1822, Hillary led the rescue of 97 men from the Royal Navy cutter Vigilant, which had run aground on the Conister Rocks during a storm. The tragedy was followed by the loss of the Brig Racehorse off Langness, where three Manxmen died attempting to save the crew. Deeply affected by these events, Hillary appealed to the Admiralty in London, seeking support for the victims’ families and proposing the creation of a national organisation dedicated to saving lives at sea.

His vision became reality in 1824 with the founding of the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, under the patronage of King George IV. The organisation would later become the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Today, the Isle of Man is home to five RNLI lifeboat stations, whose crews continue the lifesaving tradition established more than 200 years ago. Across the UK and Ireland, the RNLI now operates 238 lifeboat stations, carrying forward the mission first inspired by the dangerous waters surrounding the Isle of Man.

With Sir William Hillary's fledgling Royal National Lifeboat Institution now firmly established, his attentions turned to Conister Rock, a partially submerged, treacherous outcrop of rocks in Douglas Bay. 

In 1832, the Conister Rock was presented to Sir William Hillary by Captain John Quane. Hillary then undertook a fundraising campaign to build a shelter on the rocks for any sailors who found themselves in peril. 

As the primary benefactor, Sir William Hillary oversaw the design of the shelter by renowned Manx architect, John Welch. It featured 13th century style castellations, parapets, and corbels, and inside was a bell, along with provisions such as bread and fresh water.

Today, the Tower of Refuge remains one of the Isle of Man’s most beloved and iconic landmarks, standing as a lasting memorial to Sir William Hillary’s vision and his dedication to saving lives at sea.

Sir William Hillary is buried at St George’s Church in Douglas, where his legacy continues to be remembered as the founder of one of the world’s most respected lifesaving organisations.