The Bourbon Trail and the American Whiskey Trail are renowned destinations for spirits enthusiasts, offering a mix of distillery tours, tastings and historical context. Now, members of The Louisiana Distillers Guild are carving out a distinct path of their own.
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Rum production in Louisiana traces back to the late 17th century, when French settlers cultivated tobacco and discovered the region’s humid climate, wet soils and long summers were ideal for growing sugarcane. From those plantations came molasses and, eventually, distilled rum.
Prohibition and the complex history tied to early plantations interrupted that industry, but a new generation of craft distillers has revived rum-making in the state. These producers combine traditional methods with modern craft sensibilities, creating distinctive rums and innovative expressions. Around New Orleans you can find Atelier Vie, Seven Three Distilling, Lula Restaurant and Distillery, Porch Jam, Borasso, Roulaison and New Orleans Distillers. The Baton Rouge and Cajun Country region is home to Oxbow Rum Distillery, Sugarfield Spirits and Noel Family Distillery, while Wildcat Brothers operates west of Lafayette.
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“Louisiana is one of the few regions in the country with the right climate for sugarcane farming and the largest area for sugarcane production,” says Andrew Lohfeld, co‑founder and head distiller at Roulaison Distilling Co. That proximity to raw materials gives Louisiana rum makers a clear advantage and allows for unique styles not commonly found elsewhere in the United States. New Orleans and the Mississippi River also contribute a rich historical backdrop that enhances the visitor experience.
The current rum trail emerged alongside the broader resurgence of U.S. craft distilling over the past two decades. Small distillers are responding to consumer demand for higher-quality spirits, producing rums with distinctive flavors, creative ingredient combinations and a focus on provenance.
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“The rum and libations trail developed around the same time our distillery opened,” explains Thomas Soltau, head distiller and principal owner of Sugarfield Spirits. “Over the past four years both our business and the trail have grown. The increasing number of rum producers is helping position Louisiana as a national destination for rum, especially given the state’s leading production of sugar and molasses.”
Olivia Stewart, president of Oxbow Distillery, highlights the deep family and agricultural connections behind many of these operations. Her decision to lead her family’s rum distillery draws on a legacy of 19th‑century sugarcane farming. “What we do is intrinsically tied to the land and the people who work hard to farm it,” Stewart says. The expanding rum trail also encourages visitors to explore beyond New Orleans and discover rural Louisiana.
For visitors interested in tours, tastings and distillery experiences across southern Louisiana, the Louisiana Libations section of Explore Louisiana offers listings and details about participating distilleries and related activities.