Sailors, schooners and rum share a rich, and often entwined history. In the 1700's, sailing ships supplied Caribbean molasses to the many rum distilleries of the Massachusetts Colony. And during the days of Prohibition, schooners were used to transport rum for smugglers. In fact, these organized missions were referred to as "rum running."This tradition carries on through our founder, Captain Douglas, whose passion for the sea and sailing ships dates to his youth on Martha’s Vineyard. In 1960, Captain Douglas designed and built the extreme topsail schooner, Shenandoah. She has sailed the New England waters for over sixty years, with the Alabama – a 1926 schooner, which was rebuilt and commissioned by Captain Douglas – joining her in 1998. The Shenandoah's keel was laid in 1926, making her a living piece of American marine history. Captain Bob brings this same passion to The Black Dog Rum. Our master rum blender sources premium aged rums, then blends and bottles them in small batches in Massachusetts, bringing you high-quality, cocktail-ready white rum, as well as elegantly sippable dark rums and ready to drink canned cocktails.