Back in 2012 I entered a raffle at my kids school and won a trip to New Orleans! Other than being in Florida as a kid I had never been to the southern US and I was really excited to visit.

Part of the prize was some money to use toward tours and the first one I found turned out to be the best one.

The distillery was opened in 1995 and is housed in a 150 year old cotton warehouse. The tour was amazing, I was so enthralled with the process I didn't take any pictures!

At one point the tour guide pointed out a mark on the wall about 8 feet up. It was the high water mark left by the flood from hurricane Katrina. He went on to explain how all the barrels full of rum were floating around in the flooded building.
They only lost 10% of their rum to the flood that year so 90% was saved and this bottle hold some of that rum

After the tour and the tasting it was time to pick something up to take home. After having pretty much unlimited samples I went for the premium 10 year bottle, and I'm glad I did.

Distilled in 2002 and bottled 10 years later, just before my visit, this rum floated in a barrel in the flood waters of the worst hurricanes of the 20th century.

I do not say this lightly as many lives were lost, more than need be too, due to some poor disaster management. I say this more as a testament to the power of people to overcome the worst of situations.

So tonight I'm am thinking of all the folks in the Carolinas going through hurricane Florence as I pour a little out for those who didn't make it and those that that will need to start anew.

❤️