After soaking up the Southern Leisure vibes, we decided we weren’t quite done with Lafayette and booked a stay at a Harvest Host that sounded too good to pass up: Wildcat Brothers Rum Distillery. The catch? They asked us to do a rum tasting in exchange for parking overnight—let’s just say twisting John the Rockstar Husband Laverty’s arm wasn’t necessary.

Upon arrival, we were met with a firm warning: Do NOT walk your dogs near the bayou. Turns out, the distillery used to be a gator farm, and while the gators have long since gone wild, a few still like to hang around. Luckily for us, December was too cold for their shenanigans. So, armed with this knowledge, we took the Chihuahuas on a safe, gator-free stroll around the property before heading to the tasting room. Pro tip: eat before you drink rum. (We did. Barely.)

The Tasting

Inside the cozy tasting room, we were greeted by Adam and Matthew, our rum professors for the evening. These guys weren’t just bartenders—they were storytellers, rum enthusiasts, and possibly part-time comedians.

Adam kicked things off by recommending I “swish it around in my mouth so my body recognizes it isn’t poison.” Unfortunately, my body wasn’t buying it. I bailed after the second rum, but John the Rockstar Husband Laverty soldiered on.

The backstory of their rum was fascinating. Their award-winning white rum serves as the base for most of their products, and we learned a surprising amount about sugar cane. Did you know that once it’s cut, it only lasts 5–10 days before going bad? This means the distillery operates at breakneck speed during harvest, working around the clock to keep the sugar from spoiling. Adam and Matthew had us in stitches with their tales of late-night shifts, sugar rushes, and even ghost sightings at the facility.

The Locals

But it wasn’t just about the rum—the night turned into a masterclass in local history and lore, complete with pirates. And because this little bar doubles as a local watering hole, we got to meet some colourful characters.

First up was a local sheriff and a kindergarten teacher on their first date. They gave us some much-needed travel tips—mainly to skip Baton Rouge entirely. When we mentioned friends had suggested we spend more time there than in New Orleans, they laughed so hard we worried they’d choke on their drinks. “Are you sure these are friends?” they asked.

Next came a group of college kids who were gearing up for an LSU tailgate. They practically begged us to join them the next day, but sadly, we were on a schedule to get to New Orleans. (Let’s be real, though—I’m not sure I could have kept up with them even if I tried.)

We wrapped up the evening with a bottle of their sweet dark rum (because, obviously) and staggered back to The Raven, thankful the next stop wasn’t far.

Would I recommend Wildcat Brothers Rum Distillery? Absolutely. Even if you’re like me and can’t get past two rums, the stories, the people, and the vibe make it an unforgettable experience. Just maybe avoid the bayou.