My title to this post is a slogan frequently thrown around 2815 Frenchman Street and I dare say, not far from the New Orleans motto itself. However, when you ask many New Orleanians what they think about their very own, locally made rum most will create a look of perplexity and bewilderment. Old New Orleans Rum is now the name that occupies this position a short distance from the French Quarter, and although the distillery has been around under many names, ONOR is a promising, newer entrepreneurship for the community.
Since 1995, Celebration Distillation has been trying to get feet under a company that uses locally harvested Louisiana sugar cane to make alcohol. Why it has been so difficult to plant itself in such a drinking and locally-invested culture is still a little confusing even to me (full disclosure: I have worked here). After Katrina, ONOR changed the format of their distillation making it have a double, charcoal filtered column and still action. Although rum that survived Katrina can still be bought through the distillery it is of a completely different taste than the newer bottles being distributed to almost 14 states.
I have touted, preached about, and sold my fair share for the past 8 months and will be the first one to explain how "local" ONOR's rum and community influence is. So, when EaterNola mentions the distillery only once and nola.com writes an article (here) about another rum distillery coming to Louisiana it is a little upsetting that even less trumpeting has been done for Old New Orleans.
Certainly, competition is good for consumers and businesses alike. It creates a new element that demands managers and employees to look more closely at their product, but what is upsetting is the way ONOR has been already looked over. The Crystal, Amber, and Cajun Spice each have their own separate tastes and functions in cocktails. All ingredients other than molasses (the form ONOR buys their sugar cane) come from local food producers as well.
So, before reaching for a Sailor Jerry's, Bacardi or Captain Morgan (seriously, haven't you left high school yet?) look for the horizontal stickers that read Old New Orleans Rum. You can even take tours that offer a very eventful and informational afternoon and have parties and "happy hours" at the distillery for that "unique" New Orleans feel.
