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Join us as we uncover tales of plantations, piracy, prohibition and the Jefferson family empire.

Step inside this Dickensian office and be whisked back to an age of industry, right in the heart of Georgian Whitehaven.

A flavour of the sights, smells and sounds of the dense flora and fauna, all of which were completely alien to 17th century English settlers.

In this thought-provoking exhibit we chronicle the history of harvesting and processing raw sugar cane to create the dark spirit we know today.

Delve into the archives of one of the oldest spirit merchants in the UK and discover their links to some of Britain’s greatest institutions.

Ideally located in west Cumbria, the Jefferson warehouse was the perfect place to receive imported goods from the Caribbean.

Blow me down! Did you know that plundering pirates were engaged by the crown to attack enemy ships for silver, gold, tobacco and rum?

Life on board a navy ship was brutal and a spot of hard drinking was fair compensation for being permanently wet and in danger.

Prohibition forced innovative citizens to go to great lengths to get their hands on the ‘demon drink’ with speakeasies and illicit stills.