LACASSINE, La. (WGNO) – The largest privately owned rum distillery in the United States is just a three-hour drive from New Orleans. Take a rum road trip west on Interstate 10 and you can’t miss the giant billboards announcing free, family friendly tours, right off exit 48.
If there was any doubt that a distillery should be labeled a tourist attraction, Bayou Rum Distillery was named “2016 Attraction of the Year” by the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association.
“My mentality is do one thing and do it right,” says Head Distiller Jeff Murphy.
Rum is the only spirit produced in the 36,000 square-foot facility, but it comes in several forms: Bayou Select, Bayou Silver, Bayou Spiced and Bayou Satsuma (a rum liqueur).
It all starts with truckloads of black strap molasses and giant one-ton sacks of raw, unrefined sugar. Visitors can learn all about the process during a tour. News with a Twist’s Travel Girl, Stephanie Oswald, checked it out and even spent some time working in the bottling room.
Click here to see a photo essay: 10 reasons to take a Bayou Rum road trip!
Reservations are recommended for guided tours, which include a tasting and happen Tuesday through Saturday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Children are not allowed in the tasting bar, but can wait for their parents in the gift shop.
Master Blender Reiniel Vicente hails from Cuba, where his father was a master blender, and the father-son team also worked together in the Dominican Republic. He uses a rotation method to create the perfect blend, constantly moving and monitoring the rum barrels.
“If you want something good, you have to wait,” says Vicente.
The select rum tastes rich, ready for sipping.
Our Travel Girl Stephanie Oswald, tells you about her two favorite satsuma-inspired cocktails in her report above — here are the recipes so that you can try them for yourself!
“The Cajun Cosmo”
- 1.5 oz. Bayou Silver Rum
- .5 oz. Bayou Satsuma Rum Liqueur
- .4 oz. cranberry juice
- Juice from 2 orange wedges
Shake, strain, and serve! (Martini glass preferred)
“The Bayou Blossom”
- Fill a glass with ice, then pour the following ingredients in order:
- 1.5 oz. Bayou Silver Rum
- Top with your choice of lemonade
- Float a big splash of Bayou Satsuma Rum Liqueur on top
Here’s what a perfect Bayou Blossom looks like:
