Considering our agricultural resources and direct line to the cane fields as well as the actual sugar milling process, we are in an extraordinarily unique position to distill totally authentic Louisiana spirits delivering a true Cane to Glass experience.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (PRWEB) August 21, 2013
Cane Land Distilling Company, LLC is set to break ground this fall on Baton Rouge’s first ever craft distillery. Designed by local architect Dyke Nelson, the state-of-the-art facility, tasting room and visitor center will be on River Road and Oklahoma Street between downtown Baton Rouge and LSU campus. Cane Land was founded by Baton Rouge native Walter Tharp and Jim Massey. With a common bond to bring an honest, agriculturally based artisan spirit to market, their goal is to embody the fiber of Louisiana's cane fields in a bottle.
Just 15 minutes from the distillery, Cane Land has an agreement securing its raw agricultural sugar cane product from historic Alma Plantation and Sugar Mill in Pointe Coupee Parish. Alma has been in founder Walter Tharp’s family for over 150 years and is a true Louisiana treasure. Under the management and direction of CEO David Stewart, Alma is one of the top producing sugar mills in the country. This agreement will afford Cane Land access to the finest quality of raw sugar materials in all stages of field and mill production.
"Considering our agricultural resources and direct line to the cane fields as well as the actual sugar milling process, we are in an extraordinarily unique position to distill totally authentic Louisiana spirits delivering the true Cane to Glass experience," said Tharp
Manufactured by Vendome, Cane Land is sparing no expense having the world’s top still engineer design their still in order to reflect true Louisiana origins in its rum (and rhum). Cane Land will produce a variety of delicious rums (and rhum) and house Louisiana’s largest pot still.
What’s up with the “h” in rhum?
The French-colonized islands, like Haiti and Martinique, were the first to make rhum. The French divided rum into two subcategories, rum industriel, made from molasses, and rhum agricole, made from fresh pressed sugarcane juice. The difficulties in harvesting and fermenting fresh sugarcane juice, makes it challenging for distilleries in the United States to make rhum agricole; Cane Land will produce a variety of “rums” and be one of the first to produce “rhum agricole” in the US.
Cane Land’s commitment to build around the community of Baton Rouge remains a high priority for their company. From the intern program to the Community Outreach objectives, Cane Land welcomes the citizens of Louisiana’s input.
“We realize that the people of Baton Rouge and the state of Louisiana are the key to our success. Not only are we going to distill extraordinary spirits citizens will take pride in, but we are determined to be a vital part of the community. Our objective for anyone visiting the distillery will be to create an experience that will result in a new Cane Land brand ambassador,” said Tharp. “I can tell you this much, we are certainly going to have fun doing it.”
About Cane Land Distilling Company, LLC
Jim Massey / Founder
As a member of American Distillers Institute for over a decade, Jim comes from a long lineage in the whiskey business. Not only does he have an award winning design and development background, but he also has significant connections and insight into spirits retail and distribution.
Walter Tharp Founder
Walter’s family has owned the Alma Plantation—one of Louisiana’s most productive sugar mills for 200 years. He owns businesses in the service industry, and he has a long history in sales and marketing as well as fund raising and private capital investments.
Yvette Bonanno-Tharp / Director of Everything Delicious
A Baton Rouge celebrity chef and restaurateur, Yvette is well-known in the State of Louisiana and a staple on television cooking programs. She was the creator, owner and operator of a catering company and two restaurants. Yvette’s well-documented philanthropic efforts on local, national and international levels highlights Yvette’s acclaimed success.