Visiting Louisiana Spirits Distillery, Makers of Bayou Rum

Bayou Rum
Like Rum? Plan a Visit to the Louisiana Spirits Distillery in Southwest Louisiana
Like Rum? Plan a Visit to the Louisiana Spirits Distillery in Southwest Louisiana

“Sugar is part of our cultural heritage,” said Trey Litle, president of Louisiana Spirits just as we began a tour of the new 18,000-square-foot rum distillery located in the Southwest Louisiana town of Lacassine, about 50 miles west of Lafayette.

Litle and two other founders, his brother Trey Litel and Skip Cortese, conceived of their own rum distillery in 2011 while discussing how Louisiana is full of sugar cane fields and the need for a good quality, homegrown rum. The goal isn’t just to manufacture Bayou Rum. According to Litle Louisiana Spirits “wants to be America’s rum.”

Isn't the Bayou Rum Label Retro-Fab?
Isn’t the Bayou Rum Label Retro-Fab?

Local Sugar and Spice Makes it Extra Nice
After tasting the two flavors of Bayou Rum the distillery is producing, Silver and Spiced, I’d say they have a good shot of achieving their goal of being America’s rum. Both rums have a hint of vanilla essence and are smooth. They don’t have a harsh, fiery after bite characteristic of some rums but the Spiced has a nice zip. Plus, they have a cool, retro-fab label featuring an alligator.

Why Yes, those Are Church Pews in the Viewing Room. They Were Salvaged from a New Orleans Church Abandoned After 2005's Hurricane Katrina
Why Yes, those Are Church Pews in the Viewing Room. They Were Salvaged from a New Orleans Church Abandoned After 2005’s Hurricane Katrina

Raw, unprocessed sugar is sourced from M.A. Patout & Son, the oldest sugar mill still operating in the US, and combined with locally-sourced  molasses and filtered water from the nearby aquifer to make the Bayou Rum. What’s the key making Louisiana Spirits’ Spiced Rum spicy?

“A little Louisiana goodness,” Litle told me.

Louisiana Spirits, a Distillery Making Bayou Rum in Lacassine, Louisiana
Louisiana Spirits, a Distillery Making Bayou Rum in Lacassine, Louisiana

The distillery tour walks visitors through the process of making rum beginning with how sugar is extracted from sugar cane through the bottling and boxing process. Four hundred cases are bottled during each six-hour shift and as demand grows I imagine this craft distillery will be upping that number.

Trey Litel, President of Louisiana Spirits, Explains How Sugar is Extracted during a Tour of the Rum Distillery
Trey Litel, President of Louisiana Spirits, Explains How Sugar is Extracted during a Tour of the Rum Distillery

As of publication time, Bayou Rum is shipped within the state of Louisiana with plans to distribute beyond state lines. Silver and Spiced flavors are available and someday down the road the rum aging in oak barrels will debut as something real special.

Bayou Rum Aging in Oak Barrels at the Louisiana Spirits Distillery
Bayou Rum Aging in Oak Barrels at the Louisiana Spirits Distillery

Nuts & Bolts
Louisiana Spirits has been in full-gear since July 2013. The gift shop and distillery opened to the public in early October and an 109-year-old historic farmhouse moved from Iowa, La. (Pronounced I-owe-a) is being renovated. I purchased and packed in my suitcase a small bottle of Spiced Rum and a pouch of Silver Rum (makes it easier to pack in a suitcase especially since it’s lighter and more flexible than a glass bottle.) A tasting room is on site so you can decide whether you prefer Silver or Spiced. The facility is located off of I-10 in Southwest Louisiana.

Bayou Rum in Pouches - Easy to Pack!
Bayou Rum in Pouches – Easy to Pack!

It’s worth a stop to taste the local flavor and catch the spirit of local entrepreneurs shaping the future of Louisiana’s tourism and economics.

Louisiana Spirits
20909 Frontage Rd.
Lacassine, LA 70650
www.laspirits.net

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Jenn

Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely. The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo. Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.

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