Eats

Acadiana's first microdistillery begins distributing this week

by Elizabeth Rose

This week, try Acadiana's newest white rum from Rank Wildcat Spirits as it hits shelves in Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, Iberia, Acadia and Vermilion parishes. Schilling Distributing Company, Inc., has announced it will begin distributing Rank Wildcat Spirits' signature Sweet Crude Rum beginning this week.

The Sweet Crude Rum is the distillery's signature small batch white rum and is gluten-free and hand made from cane sugar and molasses from M.A. Patout and Son, Louisiana's oldest and largest family-owned sugar mill.

Rank Wildcat Spirits is Acadiana's first microdistillery, built and run by owners and distillers David Meaux and Cole LeBlanc. The two pride themselves on their "truly grassroots" Acadiana project, using no outside help from high-dollar investors, government aid or industrial professionals. Their hard work lent itself to the creation of their motto: Conatur Persverare - endeavor to persevere.

To find a list of stores selling Rank Wildcat Spirits' Sweet Crude Rum, visit www.schillingdistributing.com