Smuggling in Cornwall

Cornwall has a long history of smuggling, dating back to the Middle Ages when the county's coastal communities turned to illegal trade to avoid high taxes on imported goods. Smuggling became particularly prevalent in the 18th and 19th centuries when Cornwall's fishing villages were hit hard by declining fish stocks and high taxes on imported goods which made legitimate trade difficult. Despite the efforts of the Royal Navy and local authorities to stamp out the illegal trade, smuggling continued to thrive in Cornwall, with many locals turning a blind eye to the illicit activities of their neighbours. The rugged coastline and hidden coves of Cornwall provided the perfect hiding spots to smuggle bounty such as tea, spices, and of course spirits, and most notably rum! This rum would often taste of the sea as the smugglers dragged the barrels along the seabed to avoid vigilant customs officers. Today, we add a pinch of Cornish sea salt to our rum in a nod to our smuggling past.