Overview
Brand: Krewe of Jean Lafitte
Origin: Rollins Distillery, Gulf Breeze, Florida, USA
Still: Hybrid Pot
Age: 3 years
Finish: ex-Bourbon & ex-Calvados
ABV: 54.5%
Today we return to the Rollins Distillery in Florida's Panhandle, where we previously visited in our review of their cane juice rum (and physically while I was on vacation). Like the Krewe Exclusive Cane Juice rum, the subject of this review exists outside of Rollins' core product line.
The Krewe of Jean Lafitte rum began as a collaboration between the eponymous Mardi Gras krewe and the Rollins Distillery in 2017, offering the group a special rum to enjoy during their celebrations. Now an annual offering, this expression is part of their Krewe Exclusive product line– limited releases that may lean more experimental.
Krewe of Jean Lafitte Gunpowder Proof was produced from multiple molasses-based batches on 4 plates of Rollins' hybrid still in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Each batch was aged for 3 years; one in an ex-Heaven Hill barrel, another in an ex-Four Roses barrel, and the last in an ex-Calvados barrel. After blending, the rum was hand-bottled at 54.5% ABV, yielding 262 bottles in total; my bottle is number 169.
Appearance
Gold, low viscosity
Nose
Warm buttered rolls, vanilla, toffee, pineapple rind
Palate
Vanilla, underripe pineapple, toffee, candied grapefruit, brown sugar
Finish
Long, hot, slightly salty; vanilla, oak tannins, zested grapefruit, brown sugar
Rating: 7/10
Summary
This is a really fun bottle from Rollins! The proof balances flavor and power, and it features a touch of Calvados spice that adds depth and complexity.
Krewe of Jean Lafitte presents with warm buttered rolls, vanilla, and toffee on the nose, accompanied by pineapple rind for a hint of the tropics. On the palate through the finish, these notes are joined by brown sugar and candied and zested grapefruit for a slightly sweet citrus element. This could easily have fallen into the "just another American rum" category, but the care in cask aging boosted this expression to the next level.
This is another standout experiment from the father-son distilling duo. It's such an easy dram to enjoy that I wish it was regularly available near me.