Welcome to Muddy River Distillery, North Carolina's oldest "legal" rum producer. Muddy River is a family owned and operated business originally established in 2011 on the banks of the Catawba River in Belmont, NC. We now operate out of our "new" facility located in the historic Mount Holly Cotton Mill, in Gaston County, NC.  We pride ourselves on making quality award winning Carolina Rum using premium ingredients resulting in some of the best rum you'll ever sip.


Our Carolina Rum line consist of Silver, Spiced, Coconut, Basil, and Coffee—using all natural ingredients . Our Queen Charlotte line is barrel aged in new charred white oak barrels for 1, 4, and 8 years, creating a smooth rum that sips a lot like bourbon.

MUDDY RIVER DISTILLERY

Here at Muddy River Distillery we are doing things the right way. That means we only use real, high quality, natural ingredients for our products. In addition, our Queen Charlotte's Reserve barrel aged line of rums are aged exclusively in virgin American white oak barrels. The Carolina Rum flavor profile blends well with the tannins found in white oak which enhances and elevates the overall drinking experience. We get a consistent product in every batch by using virgin white oak so you know what to expect with each iteration of Queen Charlotte's Reserve.


"Queen Charlotte's Rum is the gateway rum for the bourbon drinker" -Robbie D.-


Cheers!


Distillery HOURS


  • REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS:
  • Monday - Tuesday: CLOSED
  • Wednesday - Thursday:  4p - 9p
  • Friday: 2p - 10p
  • Saturday: 11a - 10p
  • Sunday: 12p - 6p (or later if the rum is flowing)


Visit Us

Tour our facility

Muddy River Distillery is located in Mount Holly, NC along the banks of Dutchman's Creek. We are the oldest legal rum distillery in the Carolinas and ferment, distill, age and bottle our products in house. We would love to show you around our facility.

Tour Our Facility

Cocktail Recipes

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the history of the
mount holly cotton mill

The mill was built in 1875 by brothers AP and DE Rhyne and Ambrose Costner as the first mill in Gaston County, North Carolina after the Civil War, in what was then known as the town of Woodlawn. Once open, AP would work to get the town to change its name to Mount Holly after his admiration for the renowned spindle cotton made in Mount Holly, NJ. The mill would survive the great floods of 1916 that took out the three older mills in the area, leaving the building as the oldest standing mill in the county.

Give the Gift of Rum! (or drinks, food, merch...)

Order Your Gift Card Now!



Muddy River Distillery gift cards are now available! Whether you're shopping for the holidays or just want to treat someone special, you can order one online or swing by the distillery to pick one up in person. It's the perfect way to share the unique flavors of our rum and the experience of our historic mill.

Don't miss out on this great gift idea!

“By making contacts and watching, writing and talking rum, I have seen some of the distillers really explode. Muddy River is one of those.”

— Rick, The Rum Runner