New Distillery Tours in Louisiana

Thirsty for a taste of something local in Louisiana? Two new distilleries in south Louisiana have recently started to offer tours of their facilities along with onsite tastings of their products made with Louisiana ingredients, and a third distillery is under construction with the promise of plenty more tours and tastings to come. Here’s a look at this newbie trio of Lousiana distilleries bringing traditional spirit production back to the Deep South.

Donner-Peltier Distillers
1635 Street Patrick Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301
Since 2010 Thibodaux’s “grain to glass” and “cane to cocktail” distillers have made a half dozen rum, whiskey, vodka and gin products including a handcrafted and award winning “sugarshine”. Facility tours are offered on Saturdays or by appointment for groups, while a tasting room and gift shop are open Monday through Saturday. Visit dpdspirits.com for details.

Louisiana Spirits
20909 South Frontage Road, Lacassine, LA 70650
The home of Bayou Rum, Louisiana Spirits is thought to be the largest privately owned rum distillery in the United States. The factory sits on 22 acres of land in Lacassine and features a 109-year-old farmhouse. Here rum (including satsuma rum, spiced rum and a triple filtered clear rum) are distilled in traditional copper pots using 100% natural unrefined Louisiana cane sugar and molasses, following an authentic “sugar house” recipe. Facilities are open to the public Monday through Saturday, and guided tours and tastings are offered Tuesday through Saturday. Find out more at bayourum.com.

Cane Land Distilling
River Road, Baton Rouge, LA
Construction has begun on a 60,000-case capacity rum and rhum distillery in Baton Rouge. The facilities on River Road will use Louisiana ingredients such as locally grown and milled Pointe Coupee sugar cane to craft its liquors and will include a visitor center and tasting room when it opens later in 2014. Founded by Baton Rouge native Walter Tharp and Jim Massey, Cane Land will be the first distillery to operate in the state capital since prohibition. Go to canelandrhum.com for more information.

Photo: Bart Everson