Saturday, July 26, 2014

Rank Wildcat Spirits Introduces Sweet Crude Rum

   
David Meaux and Cole LeBlanc
     “Wildcatting” is an oilfield term that relates to a “Hail Mary “ in football in that it is a real long shot.   In the oilfields, sometimes it becomes a “Rank Wildcat” if it is an even longer shot of happening.          Cole LeBlanc and David Meaux , two landmen opening a rum distillery is a “Rank Wildcat” if there ever was one.

     Arcadiana, Louisiana grows a huge amount of sugar cane, more than many Caribbean nations, but there was no rum distillery.  Cole and David set out to remedy this problem and founded Rank Wildcat Spirits.    They tackled the application for federal, state and parish licenses and permits aggressively and finally in February of 2012 they became only the second fully licensed distillery in Louisiana since Prohibition.

Hand-crafted Still "Lulu"
     The spirits are distilled in their handmade stainless steel and copper still “Lulu”.  “The rum is made from Arcadian sugar cane and premium molasses.   “Arcadiana sugar cane is what makes Sweet Crude special and that is the only flavor we want to channel.”

     Initially Sweet Crude has an aroma not unlike that of an “agricole”.  The grassiness is very apparent indicating it origin of pure cane syrup.   There is a natural sweetness on the lips and clean and smooth flavor as it passes across the palate.  The finish is subtle and lingers leaving a unique flavors of the high grade sugar cane and molasses used in the process.
 

     This will mix well in a wide variety of cocktails like daiquiri, mojito, or even a Mai Tai.  I like the flavor that it adds to the mix.   Unfortunately you can only get Sweet Crude Rum in Louisiana at this time, but hopefully in the near future it will be available in other places.   There is talk of an aged version coming out in the future that will be called "Black Gold Cane-Cured Rum"