17 May 2019 Remember John Robbins, June 2
The Portland Rum Riot took place on June 2, 1855 when 3,000 high spirited Portlanders rioted after learning Neal Dow, known as “Napoleon of Temperance,” and the “Father of Prohibition,” had stashed rum at Portland City Hall.
On Sunday, June 2, 2019 we invite all of Portland to raise a Rum Riot Rum toast to the memory of John Robbins, the 22-year-old sailor from Deer Isle who was killed in the Portland Rum Riot after breaking into the liquor vault.
Rum Riot Rum is a collaboration rum created by Maine Craft Distilling, New England Distilling and us. We’re the first three small craft distillers to produce rum in Portland since Prohibition.
It is a unique barrel aged rum, combining elements from each of our own recipes. Every year on the anniversary of the Portland Rum Riot, June 2, we meet at Liquid Riot to distill and fill a used barrel from Maine Craft Distilling and New England Distilling. On that same day, we release a new batch of Portland Rum Riot Rum. This year is the third release of Portland Rum Riot Rum.
We hope wherever you are on Sunday, June 2, you’ll pause at 2 p.m. to raise a glass of Rum Riot Rum and toast to the memory of John Robbins. We’ll be here at the Riot.
