Rum in the Sugarcane Capital
Louisiana in The Deep South is renowned for its rich culture, history, and the mouth of the Mississippi River Delta. The Pelican State is on the Gulf of Mexico and at the mouth of the Mississippi-Missouri River valley. Defined by flat plains, coastal marshes, and bayous (slow-moving body of water in a low-lying area).
The fertile soil has long been cultivated for sugarcane. Louisiana grows more sugarcane than all the Caribbean islands put together and is half the production of sugarcane in the US.
The high humidity (95%) and hot subtropical climate mean it doesn’t really get cold. A fun fact is that despite the warmth, the angel’s share evaporation in the barrel can be lower than in equally humid climates of the Caribbean.
Hurricane season in Louisiana extends from June through November, it rains from June to October. Cane season is generally September to January but varies yearly. Hurricane Helene is the latest storm to affect the state.
Louisiana is the oldest and most historic state for sugarcane – it has the geographical advantage. However, French brandy reigned supreme until the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and then whiskey took over. Once Louisiana was back in US hands, the steamboat highway of the Mississippi River brought whiskey and the bartenders onboard were the influencers of the day switching drinking habits from brandy to whiskey.
Rum, America’s first spirit went into a deep sleep. New Orleans is steeped in history with a fusion of cultures and the birthplace of jazz. Renowned for its Creole cuisine, it’s often called the Crawfish Capital of the World and hosts the biggest Jazz Festival and Mardi Gras party in the US.
Today, the lost art of American rum-making has been rediscovered. Louisiana supplies many states with molasses or cane sugar for rum-making and fresh cane juice for local distilleries. There are 11 sugar mills which supply the local distillers. In the short Fall harvest season distillers collect the crushed juice and ferment it in the truck within 1-2 days before the juice spoils. If you drive in south Louisiana during this time, the air is filled with cane harvest aromas.
On this rum adventure, we take you west to east across the sugarcane state of Louisiana.
Cajun Country
In southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, the capital of Cajun Country the flat terrain, fertile soil, and humid subtropical climate. Known for its sugarcane plantations, the region also produces a variety of agricultural products. The climate is ideal for growing sugarcane, which is used to produce rum!
Bayou Rum Distillery & Event Center
Bayou Rum Distillery inspired by three childhood friends opened in 2013 Lacassine. It’s one of the most recognisable Louisiana rums nationally and internationally. Everything at Bayou is made in pot stills one batch at a time from locally sourced molasses. It has a partnership with MA Patout & Son – the oldest operating sugar mill in the US. The molasses is pasteurised before adding yeast that is specially cultivated in a lab from a strain of wild yeast found on the sugarcane. Fermentation takes 5 days, and ageing is in Bourbon barrels from Kentucky Owl Bourbon.
Bayou Reserve is a blend of barrels 2-5 years old. Bayou’s Single Batch rums are fully matured in rye whiskey barrels and red wine casks from Napa Valley for 3-5 years. Bayou XO Mardi Gras spends a year in Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks after 5 years in Bourbon barrels.
Bayou Rum’s master blender Reiniel Vicente has Cuba and Dominican Republic heritage and distilling influence. You can visit the distillery with a tour and tasting. The event center hosts large events, what better place for rum lovers to gather?
Find out more on Bayou Rum Distillery & Event Center
Wildcat Brothers Distilling at Gator Cove
The first distillery in Acadiana was founded in 2011 by a former lawyer and Ph.D. behavioural scientist. The aim is to make old-world French-style rum and they had a grand opening in 2023 for the site at Gator Cove. The rums are produced by hand in small batches using local sugarcane crystals which are processed by the almost 200-year-old sugar mill along the road.
Noire Rum is a 5-year-old blend, matured on a combination of white oak and ancestral fruit tree hardwood staves. The distiller is a third-generation Louisiana timber farmer. Sweet Crude is a small-batch white rum is made with locally sourced sugarcane syrup to achieve a light, natural sweetness. Fifolet Rum is a spiced rum with notes of coffee, vanilla beans, and cinnamon. They have an annual Valor Rations Rum release.
Gator Cove has scheduled tours, tastings, and a rum school, plus hosts live and private events.
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River Parishes
North of New Orleans along the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, central Louisiana has a similar climate to Cajun Country with slightly higher humidity due to its proximity to the river. A mix of flat plains and floodplains, making it ideal for agriculture and sugarcane cultivation. The rich history is evident in its numerous plantations, many of which have been preserved as historic sites.
Galvez Rum Tasting Room & Gardens
Jackson in the Feliciana Parish is one hour from Baton Rouge and two hours from New Orleans. This rum distillery has Spanish-style architecture and a tasting room that feels like you’re on vacation in Spain. Inspired by Bernardo de Galvez, a key ally of the American Revolution, the distillery opened in 2024 and turned the town’s old winery into a tasting room.
Founder’s Edition Premium Extra-Aged Rum is a blend of rum aged 12 years in American bourbon barrels and later finished for an additional 6 years in an originally deeply toasted Oloroso Sherry barrel from Spain, and 18 years in single bourbon barrels, a special reserve of 30-year-old rum that was first aged in bourbon barrels for 20 years, then finished for another decade in French Oak Armagnac barrels from the Cognac.
Victory Blend is a traditional Cuban rum-making method, that incorporates distinctive Louisiana and Caribbean influences. Once expertly distilled, we age in American Oak bourbon barrels, then finish in both French brandy and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks. Galvez Silver is aged in bourbon barrels and finished in specially selected Spanish sherry casks. You can enjoy private events with indoor space, outdoor lawn, and pavilion area or try their rum-tasting flights.
1827 Spirits
Across the river from Natchez Mississippi, is the small city of Vidalia. Since 2021, it is home to 1827 Spirits, a micro-distillery. The inspiration for the name of the distillery originated from Jim Bowie’s notorious Sandbar Duel, on September 19th, 1827. Bowie was a witness to a duel fought on a sandbar just north of Vidalia. The affair of honour degenerated into a desperate battle involving more than a dozen men. Although shot and stabbed, Bowie resorted to his famous knife, wounding one assailant and killing another. Both Bowie and his knife became legends that day.
As the first legal distillery in Concordia Parish in more than 100 years, 1827 Spirits is keeping the tradition alive making “Rum Worth Fighting For”.
Using molasses and brown sugar from south Louisiana to produce award-winning Sandbar Duel Rums. Offerings include Silver, Dark, Spiced, Pineapple, Coconut, Blueberry and Apple Pie rums. 1827 Spirits also has a straight Moonshine and an Absinthe Verte. The tasting room is open Thursday – Saturday 12-5pm
Find out more on 1827 Spirits
Oxbow Rum Distillery
An 1859 family estate has raised sugarcane on the banks of the Mississippi River oxbow in Pointe Coupée in downtown Baton Rouge. Previously called Three Roll Estate Oxbow Rum, Olivia Stewart is a fifth-generation distillery owner.
The Single Estate Rum is made from the finest Louisiana sugarcane; they farm, mill, and distill every batch. Made from 100% Grade A sugarcane molasses Oxbow Small Batch White Rum is unaged. Oxbow Barrel Aged Straight Rum aged in new American oak barrels for a minimum of 2 years. Oxbow Rhum Louisiana Cane Juice Agricole is bottled only once each year during the fall sugarcane harvest. Rhum Louisiane Single Barrel is aged for 2 years in new oak barrels.
False River Dark Rum is their dark rum distilled from Grade-A molasses aged in Bourbon barrels and then finished with a dark caramel blend. False River Barrel Aged Spiced Rum is aged in American oak barrels and infused with a recipe of botanical and other natural flavours.
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The Sugar Coast
Near the Mississippi River and the Gulf Coast in Louisiana’s Sweet Spot is where the cane grows. In south-eastern Louisiana just north of Baton Rouge, is known for its sugarcane plantations and rum production. The climate is humid subtropical, with warm temperatures and ample rainfall, providing ideal conditions for sugarcane growth. The region’s flat terrain and fertile soil are well-suited for agriculture, making it a significant contributor to Louisiana’s economy.
NOËL Family Distillery
Based in Donaldsonville on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. Chip and his daughter, Natalie Noel started a distillery in their hometown. Along with local farmers and the residents of Donaldsonville who invested in the distillery. It makes spirits including tequila, rum, vodka, and canned craft cocktails
Distilled from high-test molasses (concentrated cane juice), the Barrel Aged Rum cask is aged for 6 years in oak barrels. NOËL Rum Rare 6YR Reserve is a blend of Caribbean and Central American Rum aged 6-8 years in new and used American oak barrels. NOËL Rum 6YR Tequila Cask finished is aged in white American oak and finished in ex-tequila barrels. You can book a distillery tour and tasting.
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Sugarfield Spirits
The serene bayou country, about 30 miles south of Baton Rouge and 60 miles west of New Orleans is the perfect backdrop for producing rum. Sugarfield Spirits in Gonzales first started distilling in 2019, and opened to the public in 2020.
There are several stills; a small 100-gallon pot still does the small batch work; they also have a 600-gallon stripping still and a 600-gallon stripping/finishing still. The finishing still can be run as a pot still or run through a 4-plate column still.
With barrels of rum approaching 5 years of age, they make the full gamut of rum production. Fresh cane juice spirit in the Fall from freshly squeezed cane juice that doesn’t see heat until distillation. There are two other styles; one is 100% blackstrap molasses, and te other is a blend of raw cane sugar and blackstrap molasses.
Just released is Sugarfield Spirits Port Finished Single Barrel Rum, a blend of raw cane sugar and blackstrap molasses, sourced exclusively from Belle Rose, just across the Mississippi River from the distillery. It’s 3½ years old single barrel rum aged in a red port barrel. You can visit the tasting room and try a locally-made rum and delicious cocktails.
Find out more on Sugarfield Spirits
New Orleans
In southeast Louisiana, The Big Easy is known for its cultural heritage, music scene, and Mardi Gras. Also nicknamed The Crescent City for its location and the sharp curve it was built around the Mississippi River. It has both a humid subtropical climate and maritime influences with a mix of flat plains and coastal marshes. The city is historically important for American cocktail culture and distilled spirits. It doesn’t stand still, a new generation of distillers are leading the renaissance.
Atelier Vie
Jedd Haas founded Atelier Vie in New Orleans back in 2011. He makes a variety of spirits including whiskey, rum, gin, brandy, and absinthe. Calio Rum is made from 100% Louisiana blackstrap molasses which is sourced from a sugar mill about 80 miles from the distillery.
They ferment the molasses for 1-2 weeks and use dunder to develop the flavour in fermentation. Dunder is the liquid remaining in the still after the initial distillation, or stripping run. Calio Rum is a pot-distilled clear rum made entirely from Louisiana molasses. It has no additives or sugar added and is unfiltered.
Barrel Aged Calio Rum is a special release, pot distilled, with additives and aged over 4 years in a single barrel which was formerly used to age both whiskey and gin; and is Bottled-in-Bond. The latest release is Calio Rum Cask Strength, 5 Years, Single Barrel. This flagship expression has been aged a minimum of 5 years in a single barrel. It’s bottled exactly as it came out of the barrel, with no dilution, at cask strength. Visits are by appointment only.
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Borasso Spirits
In the St. Claude neighbourhood of New Orleans is this boutique distillery specialises in gin and rum spirits. Founded by Ewan Willey and Laurie Fewell, a local bartender and artist in 2023. It draws inspiration from the historic cocktail and trade traditions of the city.
Their flagship product is a white rum made from 100% Louisiana-grown sugarcane molasses and inspired by the French and English Caribbean rums that poured into the Gulf Port. A cross between the profile of a Rhum Agricole and a rich Jamaican pot rum, Borasso White Rum evokes these Caribbean and colonial-era production styles to produce a unique expression of Louisiana terroir.
This no-additive or added sugar rum contains only three ingredients: Louisiana spring water, cane molasses sourced from nearby producers in Paincourtville, and heritage yeast. No temperature control is used during fermentation.
The Circle B Bar at Borasso Spirits is open for tours and tasting room is open Mon-Fri. They host events and live music at the Circle B Bar in the distillery.
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Lula Restaurant Distillery
Started by two friends Jess and Bear in New Orleans in 2015, this is a micro-distillery and restaurant. The distillery distills whiskey, vodka, rum & gin. Lula Rum is made with molasses and raw sugar. Its batch fermented and distilled on a pot /copper column still. They have rum ageing in barrels and will release an aged rum soon.
Open 7 days a week for brunch, lunch, and dinner, they have private dining in their Small Barrel Room and patio seating on the famous St. Charles Avenue.
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NOLA Distillery
Inspired by a family history of moonshiners, Gerald Christian the founder and president of HS Beverage opened the NOLA Distillery in 2019. They produce vodka, rum, dark rum, gin, and whiskey. The main rum expressions are 1933 Dark Rum aged in whiskey barrels and 1933 Spiced Rum; both are made with molasses.
Tours, cocktails & events in the tasting room and bottle store are open 7 days a week.
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Old Alker Distillery
Kevin Alker’s family came to New Orleans in 1848 and started a business making oak barrels, which they shipped upriver to whiskey distillers and back to Europe. Family-built and operated distillery with six generations of history in New Orleans, they opened the Old Alker Distillery on Oak Street in August 2024. The city’s newest distillery offers a wide range of spirits using unique ingredients from around Louisiana.
Bienville Platinum Rum is named after the French explorer who founded the city. It’s made from 100% Louisiana sugarcane, uses locally sourced sugar, and is pot-distilled. They are making rum and plan to transition to Bourbon. You can try the spirits on their tours and private tastings.
Porchjam Distillery
Louisiana’s largest distillery began production in the fall of 2017. Founder Gordon Stewart and distiller Jason Zeno are rising stars in Louisiana distilling. The 24,000-square-foot distillery has a bespoke hybrid column system, featuring dual 24-plate column stills to make Bolden Vodka.
Cheramie Rum is their rum brand launched in 2021, it’s distilled from fermented fresh cane juice made from Louisiana-grown sugarcane.
Production takes place between October and January, the process includes harvesting, crushing, fermentation, and initial distillation. Pot/column distilled Cheramie Blanc rum rests in stainless steel for a minimum of 3 months before bottling. Cheramie Aged Gold is aged for at least 2 years in oak casks.
They have made limited releases for Turning Tables NOLA called Rhum Pou Moun-La and Cask Select for Cane and Table. Porchjam may be one of the largest craft distilleries in the state, but it doesn’t have a tasting room or formal tours. They aim to supply bars and stores.
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Roulaison Distilling Co
Launched in late 2016, by old friends Andrew Lohfeld and Patrick Hernandez. Roulaison means rolling action, as in cane harvesting. Andrew is head distiller and vice president of the Louisiana Distillers Guild.
Traditional Pot Distilled Rum is their flagship white rum. Roulaison Overproof Rum is an unaged rum bottled at traditional Navy strength. Roulaison Barrel Aged Reserve has casks ranging from 5 to 53 gallons that originally held bourbon, rye, brandy, wheat whiskey, or single malt. The rum is placed into casks at the pre-prohibition maximum of 110 proof. Bottled in Bond Rum is from one season and aged at least 4 years in wood, no additives, only pure water to 100 degrees proof. Roulaison Amer is their rum liqueur.
The distillery and tasting room offer tours (including tasting) and tasting flights are available to walk-ins but it’s best to call ahead to confirm.
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Seven Three Distilling Co.
Named after the 73 neighbourhoods that make up New Orleans, located just on the edge of the French Quarter in the heart of the city. Founded in 2016 by owners Jeff and Mary Ann Rogers with head distiller Luka Cutura making the spirits. Each of the spirits released by the distillery is named after an area in New Orleans. The Black Pearl Rum is based on the history of rum running and its rough-and-rowdy past, perched on high ground. Black Pearl Rum is made from 66% A-grade molasses and 33% evaporated sugar, all local sugar from Lula Farms. It’s a clean, smooth spirit with slightly fruity grassy notes, courtesy of Louisiana sugarcane.
The distillery is open daily for tours and tastings in the tasting room with a small lounge and gift shop.
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Bayou Country
South-eastern Louisiana is known for its extensive wetlands, bayous, and coastal marshes. The climate is humid subtropical, with frequent rainfall and high humidity. The region’s unique ecosystem supports a diverse array of wildlife, including alligators, turtles, and numerous bird species. Sugarcane cultivation is less prevalent in this region due to the predominance of wetlands.
Bayou Terrebonne Distillers
Louisiana’s southernmost distillery is family-owned and operated. Bayou Terrebonne Distillers is a marsh roots company founded on the belief that honest joy is distilled from hard work and earned victories, both big and small.
BTD is located in the heart of Historic Downtown Houma, deep in South Louisiana. Its purpose is to preserve an illicit family tradition started by the owners’ great-grandmother on the bank of Bayou Terrebonne during Prohibition. Like her great-grandsons today, she meticulously crafted and slow-cooked her bayou spirits. It just wasn’t quite legal when she did.
BTD carries on her defiant spirit through its products like Hard Scrabble Silver Rum and Hogshead Aged Rum. These rums are made from locally sourced raw sugar, straight from the mill down the road from the distillery. They are twice-distilled in simple pot stills to ensure a rich, genuine rum profile. The tasting room at Bayou Terrebonne Distillers is open 6 days a week for tours, tastings, and cocktails. Make a pass for a true taste of the Bayou Spirit!
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Yellowfin Distillery
Jamison Trouth established his distillery in Sulphur back in 2017 making craft vodka. In a part of Lake Charles best known for charter boat fishing adventures, the brand is named Yellowfin as Louisiana is also home to two of the top ten Yellowfin Tuna fisheries in the world, Venice & Grand Isle.
Mahi Platinum Single Estate Rum White rum is made from Louisiana cane sugar & molasses, fermented, and then distilled at a high purity so a very light rum. Mahi Single Estate Rum is the flagship rum. Mahi Toasted Single Estate Rum is Mahi Rum rested with an array of toasted American oak. With Mahi Charred Single Estate Rum the rum is rested with an array of toasted & charred American oak. They’re open Monday through Friday for tours and samples.
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Where to Enjoy Rum in Louisiana
New Orleans: Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29, Cane & Table, The Rum House, Manolito, Erin Rose, Cure, Tchoup Yard, Felipe’s Taqueria, Black Duck Bar at the Palace Café, High Grace NOLA, Pat O’Brien’s
Baton Rouge: Pelican to Mars, Hayride Scandal
During cane harvest season, at city bars, you can ask to try some fresh cane juice. Sazerac is the famous local cocktail; Sazerac is the most famous cocktail associated with New Orleans going back to the 1850s and Sazerac House is an iconic stop. Try a variation on the classic Sazerac cocktail and use rum instead of cognac or rye whiskey.
Getting around might need a designated driver as distilleries and bars are spread out. Jazz Fest, Mardi Gras, and Tales of The Cocktail are super busy times to visit for rum lovers and require forward planning.
To truly understand modern American rum you need to visit the sugarcane state of Louisiana.
For more general travel advice on Louisiana Tourism
For travel planning use our Louisiana Rum Map
Thanks to the brands for contributing to this article, and permission to use their images. Other image credits to Canva Pro, and user contributions.
