Louisiana is proud to welcome the newest addition to our collection of local distilleries, Cane Land Distilling Company. The distillery, founded in 2013 by Walter Tharp, will host its grand opening on May 20, 2017, in Baton Rouge. Tharp, whose family owns Alma Plantation and Sugar Mill in Lakeland, Louisiana came up with the idea to open a distillery at the wedding of a friend who suggested the idea. What makes Cane Land’s products so unique is that owning the Alma farmland, the sugar mill, and the distillery allows for complete control of the production and distilling process. This results in one of the country’s only estate-bottled producers of spirits in the continental U.S.
I spoke with Jonny VerPlanck, Head Distiller and VP of distilling operations at Cane Land, who told me a bit more about the Cane Land products and what guests can expect at the grand opening. At the grand opening, guests will enjoy tastings and cocktails of Cane Land’s five spirits, the Argente Silver Rum, Spiced Rum, Cinnamon Rum, Shindig Vodka and the OMFW Whiskey as well as live bands and food trucks.
So, when will Cane Land products go on the market? According to VerPanck, Cane Land is “hoping to go statewide with distribution by July, but we are still ironing out the details.” As far as where to purchase the Cane Land products, VerPlanck informed us that “products will be sold at all your usual retail locations in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette.” If you’re not sure which Cane Land product to try out first, VerPlanck told us, “my favorite is always going to be rum because I believe that's the best spirit on the planet. The type of rum depends on my mood.”
