Discover Bayou Rum: A Tour of Louisiana Spirits, the State's Only Rum Distillery

By Angie Kay Dilmore I often find myself delaying exciting local adventures, but I finally visited Louisiana Spirits, the state's only rum distillery, located just off I-10 from Lake Charles in Lacassine. Opened over a year ago, touring this facility had long been on my bucket list. My husband Bob and I made the trip recently. Bayou Rum has surged in popularity, flying off shelves at liquor stores and local spots for months. Photo by Angie Kay Dilmore Crafted from sugarcane—a Louisiana staple—Bayou Rum stands out as America's Rum, using exclusively U.S.-sourced ingredients, mostly local. They source unrefined granulated cane sugar and molasses from Patout and Sons, founded in 1829 and the oldest family-owned sugar refinery in the U.S. The distillery offers informative tours covering rum's Louisiana history (dating back to Jesuit settlers in the 1700s) and their modern production process. Photography is restricted during tours, but we captured views through a glass wall. Photo by Angie Kay Dilmore Photo by Angie Kay Dilmore Key facts: Rum must be at least 80 proof, and their line fills 22 bottles per minute. Photos are welcome in the gift shop. Initially offering Silver (unflavored) and Spiced rums, they launched Satsuma Rum in August—a delicious 60-proof liqueur (satsumas are like mandarin oranges, native to Louisiana). We brought a bottle home. Photo by Angie Kay Dilmore A fourth variant, an aged rum in Kentucky oak bourbon barrels, will be ready in December after one year of aging. Tastings cap the tour—Bob and I are fans of the Spiced Rum. Photo by Angie Kay Dilmore Photo by Angie Kay Dilmore A tour highlight: Meeting Oscar, a one-month-old rescued raccoon cared for by Randy Harrah, the distillery's self-proclaimed "chief executive janitor." Oscar is as gentle as a kitten—for now. Photo by Angie Kay Dilmore Louisiana Spirits is a must-visit. Learn more on their website. To read more of Angie's adventures, check out her blog, angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com.