Built on Process and Patience
Carleton’s Prize Distilling is a small batch distillery dedicated to reviving New England style rum as it was originally made. We craft rum using molasses alone, with no added sugar, flavoring, or shortcuts, allowing fermentation and distillation to define the character of the spirit. Our approach is inspired by the historic Medford rums of early 1700s New England, which were known for their structure, dryness, and depth. Every batch is made deliberately, with a focus on balance, clarity, and lasting flavor rather than sweetness or speed.
Why Carleton’s Prize?
On a foggy night during the American Revolution, an island in Lake Champlain, Vermont, became an unwitting protagonist in a wartime tale. British warships patrolling the lake mistook the island's shape for an enemy vessel and opened fire. Cannonballs thundered through the mist, striking trees and rocks instead. As dawn broke, the British realized their mistake, revealing the harmless island. This incident, forever etched in local lore, served as a testament to the tension of those times. Today, that island now known as Carleton’s Prize, named after the British governor of Quebec, stands as a silent witness to a night when nature's obscurity momentarily turned it into an unexpected target in the fog of war.
Carleton’s Prize Distilling
400 Avenue D, Williston, VT 05495
© 2025 Carleton’s Prize Distilling LLC