Historic Distillery Site

Finney's Distillery was discovered during demolition of the structure of the original Bank of Bristol. For nearly thirty-five years, two hundred gallons of rum were made each day and placed in barrels called hogsheads, which held 63 gallons each. A ready market for the product was found on the Westcoast of Africa, where the rum was bartered for slaves on the triangle trade route. At one time, five distilleries were in active operation in Bristol, and in each of them molasses was converted into rum. The last closed in 1830 after the business ceased to be profitable. Historic records show that this distillery site was hit by British fire during the attack on Bristol on October 7, 1775, and apparently a rum barrel was destroyed in the attack.

Bristol, Rhode Island · United States