A.H. Riise

A.H. Riise was a prominent Danish pharmacist and businessman, best known for his production of rum in the Danish West Indies, now the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Early Life

Albert Heinrich Riise was born on September 11, 1810, in Ærøskøbing, Denmark. He studied pharmacy at the University of Copenhagen and graduated in 1832.

Career

In 1838, Riise was granted a royal concession to open a pharmacy in Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the Danish West Indies. His pharmacy, known as "A.H. Riise Apotek," was the first and only pharmacy in the Danish West Indies for many years.

Riise began producing rum in the 1840s, using a distillation process that he developed himself. His rum, known as "A.H. Riise Rum," quickly gained popularity for its unique flavor and high quality. Riise's rum was awarded several international prizes, including the gold medal at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1855.

In addition to his rum production, Riise also operated a successful import and export business, trading goods between the Danish West Indies and Europe. He sold his pharmacy and rum production business in 1878, but his rum continued to be produced under his name.

Legacy

Today, A.H. Riise's legacy lives on through the A.H. Riise Rum brand, which is still produced in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The brand offers a variety of rum products, including the original A.H. Riise Rum, as well as several flavored and aged rums.

See Also

• Rum
• Pharmacy
• Danish West Indies
• Charlotte Amalie
• Exposition Universelle (1855)