Overview
Brand: Lafcadio
Origin: Porchjam Distillery, New Orleans, LA, USA
Still: Column
Age: NAS
Finish: n/a
ABV: 43%
In a world where to be a spirits company, you almost 100% need to have warehouses, a distillation setup, and dozens (or more) highly-technical staff to even consider starting operations, Liba Spirits is challenging the status quo.
Liba Spirits was founded by Colton Weinstein and Devon Trevathan with a unique concept: they travel and borrow time at other distilleries to produce spirits that are evocative of the areas where they are crafted. In their current lineup is a gin that was produced in the Italian alps, an aperitivo that utilizes bourbon as a hat-tip to its roots in Tennessee, and today's review subject– Lafcadio Botanical Rum.
Lafcadio is named after Lafcadio Hearn, a Greek-Irish writer and fellow nomad who was pivotal in introducing Japanese culture to the West; he also spent many years in New Orleans. The expression was produced at Porchjam in New Orleans, Louisiana, and utilized macerated and infused ingredients that include Bay leaf, orange peel, cardamom, white pepper, and cherry bark. According to Liba Spirits' website, a minute amount of sugar was added into the rum, which was bottled unaged at 43% ABV.
For full disclosure, this bottle was sent to me from Liba Spirits themselves, free of any obligation or incentive to review the rum.
Appearance
Clear, low viscosity
Nose
Pepper mint, bay leaf, black peppercorns, mint chocolate chip ice cream
Palate
Bay leaf, spearmint, black pepper, juniper berries, coriander, cardamom
Finish
Long, soft, botanical; chocolate mint, coriander, juniper, cracked black pepper, bay leaf
Rating: 4/10
Summary
I'll be frank– I'm not a fan of botanical rum, mostly because there are few instances where I would use such a product over gin. Lafcadio Botanical Rum manages to be an enjoyable example of this sub-category.
Lots of herbs and spices are present throughout, with bay leaf playing a starring role, supported by black pepper, coriander, juniper, cardamom, and mint varietals such as peppermint, spearmint, and chocolate mint. After pouring the rum, there's a strong note of mint chocolate chip ice cream that fills the air. The finish is long and botanical, but is gentle and allows the flavors to fade out softly.
I admire Liba Spirits for their innovation, including partnering with a standout distillery in the burgeoning Louisiana rum scene. This expression isn't one that I'd likely pick up myself, but is worth trying if you do want something off the beaten path.