Now Open: Beenleigh's Heritage-Listed 140-Year-Old Rum Distillery Is Home to an 80-Seat Restaurant

There's no prizes for guessing why Beenleigh's Distillery Road has its name. All you need to do is look for the red building on the banks of the Albert River, where Beenleigh Artisan Distillers has sat since 1884. The heritage-listed site is no longer just a go-to for fans of spirits, however. It's now also home to a restaurant serving pub-style dishes that often come slathered with — what else? — rum sauce.

Order the signature beef ribs, the corn ribs and sticky pork belly bites and you'll be eating rum condiments whether or not you've opted for the eatery's beverage of choice to wash down your meal. Thanks to the dessert lineup, you can also finish your lunch or dinner with rum liqueur coffee creations. And yes, from mojitos using Beenleigh Artisan Distillers' white rum and a distiller's iced tea made with spiced rum through to a rum sour, rum old fashioned and rum-based twist on the espresso martini, the drinks list goes heavy on rum as well.

Seating 80, Beenleigh's new Distillery Restaurant heroes not only its favourite tipple, but also local produce and Aussie flavours. Other dishes to try include spicy chicken wings, brisket and veggie burgers, char-grilled chilli garlic squid and a 300-gram Darling Downs porterhouse steak. Plus, the sweets range spans a meringue stack paired with dragonfruit compote, as well as a sticky toffee pudding with burnt orange caramel, coffee and wattleseed gelato.

Seasonal sips feature alongside the distillery's regular cocktails on the drinks list, plus seven of Beenleigh Artisan Distillers' own drops. El Toro's tequilas, vodka and gin from 23rd Street Distillery, Bearded Lady bourbon, Vale and Fox Hat brews, and Queen Adelaide and Beresford wines round out the libations.

Fancy not only stopping by for a meal and a drink, but for rum tastings, tours of the distillery and masterclasses? That's also available.

"We are thrilled to introduce The Distillery Restaurant as an extension of the Beenleigh Rum Distillery experience, and believe it will quickly become a favourite with both locals and travellers," said Beenleigh Artisan Distillers' Head of Marketing and Hospitality Chris Illman.

"The menu itself has taken classic comfort foods and elevated them with high-quality ingredients, new flavour profiles, unexpected twists — and, of course, a healthy dose of Beenleigh Rum where possible.

Find Beenleigh Artisan Distillery and Distillery Restaurant at 142 Distillery Road, Eagleby, with the restaurant open 11am–3pm Wednesday–Sunday for lunch and 5–9pm on Fridays for dinner.