Guided Distillery Tour & Rum Tasting

At Roulaison Distilling Co, rum making is close-up work: the roughly one-hour tour takes you through a small New Orleans distillery, with an owner explaining the process and pouring five samples at the end. The focus is not just on what goes into a bottle, but on how Caribbean and New Orleans rum traditions inform this distillery’s approach.

I like two things in particular: the guide is often a co-owner who can answer detailed questions from firsthand experience, and the $15 ticket includes five pours, including the possibility of distillery-only releases. The trade-off is location: this is away from the French Quarter, and the entrance can be tricky to spot, so plan your ride and arrival rather than expecting to wander in from the tourist center.

• Five rum samples are included in the $15 ticket, with special releases sometimes among the pours.
• The group is limited to eight, making it easier to ask questions and see the small operation up close.
• Owner-guide Andrew often leads the tour, sharing the distillery’s process and the local and Caribbean traditions behind it.
• The tour lasts about an hour, including the tasting, and returns to the starting point.
• The address is 2727 S Broad Ave, Suite #103, but the business can be tucked back from the street, so give yourself time to find it.
• You must be 21 or older to take the tour and tasting. Transportation is not included.

A Small Distillery With a New Orleans Point of View

Roulaison Distilling Co offers a useful change of pace from the crowded streets and cocktail bars of the French Quarter. Instead of simply ordering a rum drink, you get a look at how a local producer makes its spirits and how the region’s links to Caribbean rum shape its work.

The distillery is small, which is part of the appeal. You are not moving through a large visitor center with a scripted presentation and a long walk between stations. You can get close to the equipment, follow the production process, and ask questions as they come to mind. The group limit of eight helps keep the visit personal without promising that you’ll have the place entirely to yourself.

Andrew, one of the owners, is a frequent guide. His role in the business gives the explanations a practical edge: he can talk about the decisions behind the rum as well as the mechanics of making it. Other staff have also led tours, so the guide may vary, but the experience is built around a small team sharing its own work.

The visit suits curious drinkers, rum fans, and anyone interested in how a small New Orleans business works. You do not need to arrive as a rum expert. The tour is described as accessible to most participants, and the guide can explain the process in plain terms. If you do not drink rum, the tour may still appeal for its production and local history, but the tasting is a central part of the hour.

From Caribbean and New Orleans Traditions to the Still

The tour begins at Roulaison’s distillery on South Broad Avenue. From there, the guide connects rum’s long-standing ties to the Caribbean and New Orleans with the methods used at the distillery today. That context helps make the production details more than a list of equipment: you hear how this small producer’s choices compare with common modern rum-making practices.

The exact route through the facility and the specific production steps covered can depend on the guide and what is happening at the distillery. The central promise is a guided look at how rum is made, explained by someone closely involved with the operation. Andrew has been praised for describing the process from start to finish and for taking questions rather than delivering a generic talk.

You may also hear about sugarcane and the decisions that affect a rum’s character. Visitors have found the explanations detailed but easy to follow, a good balance if you want substance without a technical lecture. Ask questions as you go. A small group gives you room to steer the conversation toward the parts that interest you, whether that is production, local rum history, or what makes one bottle different from another.

The compact scale has a practical downside: if you have toured a much larger distillery, Roulaison may feel modest. There is less room to roam and less of a grand factory feel. But the small footprint also puts the equipment and process within reach. This is a close-up visit, not a spectacle.

Five Pours, With Room for Something Special

The tasting is included in the ticket and features five rum samples. The selection may include distillery-exclusive special releases, though no particular bottle is guaranteed. Past tastings have ranged from lighter rum to barrel-aged styles, with a chocolate rum liqueur among the products that has caught people’s attention.

The tasting gives the production tour a satisfying finish. After hearing about the process, you can compare the results in the glass and ask the guide what distinguishes each pour. The samples are described as generous in flavor and strong in alcohol, so pace yourself. Eat beforehand, and drink water. This is a spirits tasting, not a meal, and five samples can add up quickly.

The included tasting is a meaningful part of the $15 price. You do not need to pay separately for a flight, and the samples may cover a range of styles you might not choose on your own. If you find a favorite, bottles and other products are available to buy at the distillery. Some visitors have taken advantage of purchase discounts, but the details and availability of any discount are not specified, so ask on site rather than counting on one.

The experience is not a bar crawl or a broad sampling of New Orleans drinking culture. You are tasting Roulaison’s own products, with the maker’s perspective attached. That makes it a better fit if you want to understand one local producer’s rum than if you are seeking a wide survey of brands.

Getting to Roulaison on South Broad Avenue

The meeting point is Roulaison Distilling Co, 2727 S Broad Ave, Suite #103, New Orleans, LA 70125. The tour ends back at the same location. Private transportation is not included, so you will need to arrange your own way there. Some visitors have used a rideshare from the French Quarter, which puts the distillery beyond the usual central sightseeing circuit.

Allow a little extra time to find the entrance. The business can be set back from the main street, down an alley or toward the rear of the property, and the address may not be immediately obvious when you arrive. One practical tip is to look beyond the front of the building and check the back area rather than assuming the business is closed if the street-facing space looks quiet.

If you arrive early, there may be other places in the same parking lot where you can wait, including a spot serving mead and cider. Treat that as a possible convenience, not a guaranteed part of the tour. Arriving with time to spare is still wise, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area.

This is an approximately one-hour activity, including the tasting. It is offered in English, and you receive a mobile ticket. Confirmation is provided at booking. The group is capped at eight, and the activity is for people aged 21 and older. Service animals are allowed, and the tour is described as suitable for most participants.

What the $15 Ticket Gets You

At $15 per person, this is a low-cost way to spend an hour learning about a local producer and sampling five of its rums. The price is especially fair if you value direct access to a maker. A guide who helps run the distillery can speak to the actual process, answer follow-up questions, and explain what the tasting is meant to show.

Value depends on what you want from a tour. If you are after a large facility, an elaborate visitor center, or a long outing, this will feel short and simple. The tour is compact, the distillery is small, and transportation is extra. But if you want an intimate look at rum production with an included tasting, you get a lot of useful detail for the price.

You should also factor in the journey from central New Orleans. The ticket is inexpensive, but the ride adds time and cost. I would think of this as a planned side trip rather than an activity to squeeze in between nearby French Quarter stops. It pairs well with a day when you have room to explore beyond the main tourist streets.

The tour is generally very well regarded, with a 4.9 rating and 98 percent of participants recommending it. The most consistent strengths are the personal approach, the guide’s enthusiasm and command of the subject, and the quality of the tasting. The main reservations are modest but worth knowing: the place can be difficult to locate, and the small scale may not match expectations if you are used to larger distilleries.

Who Should Book This Rum Tour?

Book it if you enjoy spirits, want to understand how rum is made, or prefer a small-group experience over a polished, high-volume attraction. It is also a strong pick for couples or friends looking for an hour away from the French Quarter’s usual sights. The owner-led format gives the visit a personal feel, and the tasting makes the lesson concrete.

You do not have to be a committed rum drinker to find value in the production story. Someone who arrives curious about sugarcane, distilling, or the region’s rum traditions may come away with a new appreciation for the drink. Still, if you do not drink alcohol, note that the listed experience centers on five alcoholic samples and does not specify a nonalcoholic alternative.

I would skip it if you need a centrally located activity, want a full afternoon of entertainment, or prefer to avoid strong spirits. For everyone else, it is an appealing, fairly priced detour: small in scale, generous with explanations, and grounded in the work of the people making the rum.

FAQ

How long does the Roulaison Distilling Co tour take?

The guided tour and tasting take approximately one hour.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $15 per person.

How many rum samples are included?

Five rum samples are included. The tasting may include distillery-exclusive special releases.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Roulaison Distilling Co, 2727 S Broad Ave, Suite #103, New Orleans, LA 70125, and ends at the same meeting point.

Is transportation included?

No. Private transportation is not included, so you need to arrange your own way to the distillery.

Is there an age requirement?

Yes. The tour and tastings are for people aged 21 and older.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather cancels the tour, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund.