In the world of small batch spirits, little ole Distillerie Acadian, in Iberia Parish, has gained much attention and respect since its beginnings in 2017 as Louisiana’s first bourbon producer, then expanding to a line that includes whiskey, vodka and an award-winning gin.
It appears that the secret to the success of this family-owned business is like its distilling process: a fine balance of creativity and knowing how far to push the boundaries.
Philip Mestayer is at the helm of the company as head distiller. His father Steve, an attorney, saw to licensing in the beginning and now helps with bottling. Mother Adrienne does the bookkeeping. Brother Johnathan “Jeep” remains involved with marketing while living out of state
Currently located just off of Hwy. 90 outside of New Iberia, Distillerie’s liquors are made from Louisiana corn and grains from Texas, then aged in new white American oak barrels with a level III char.
The Spirits
-Cajun Cut, a straight bourbon made with their own grain mash of corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley. Described as “unapologetically bold,” the bourbon is bottled without being diluted with water, so the proof varies. The term “Cajun’s Cut” refers to the bourbon remaining after evaporation, known as the Angel’s Share.
-Cajun Cut cask strength is aged for at least two years. The 94-proof bourbon is made from a four-grain mash of corn, rye, wheat and barley malt.
-T-Moon is a blend of their bourbon mash bill and pure cane sugar. “If Whiskey and Rum had a baby, it would be T-Moon,” jokes Philip. Though it is now out of production, there is a three-year supply for fans.
-Bon Vāle cask-strength is a single malt whiskey made of 100 percent malted barley.
-Bon Vāle malt- is a malt whiskey with a port-cask finish, and though out of production, followers can still purchase some.
-Voilà- A vodka that is a perfect mixer, yet stands out, made from 100 percent corn and is triple filtered over six days.
SoLou- A handcrafted gin made from eight botanicals, including Louisiana honeysuckle, offering a floral forward with a back end of citrus and spice. “It took a year and a half to come up with the right recipe,” notes Philip. Evidently worth the time, because it won a Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
A bonus: The website offers recipes for each of their spirits.
Distribution
Distillerie Acadian is in stores – and restaurants – throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and, as of recent, Colorado, near Denver and Colorado Springs. “We can’t make enough right now,” reports Philip. Which is why the business will be undergoing an expansion next year, with a new, larger facility -actually two facilities – that will be located across from Acadiana Regional Airport. The barrel house will be ready later this year, and a distribution center will be ready for operation mid part of next year.
New Series and Some Smokes
Philip has kept up with production by adding a new bottling and filtration system in April. It’s a long way from the original still he welded, now out of production, but kept as a memento.
Always pushing the boundaries, he talks about the upcoming “experimental” series. “It involves 10 different whiskeys, each with a completely different mash bill, with a completely unique product to showcase what can be created with different grains. We’re using blue corn, white corn, bloody butcher corn, red triticale, oats, malted rye, chocolate malted rye and honey malted oats.”
Among the series is a wheated bourbon with the label name Matrimony, put in production a few years ago and slated to be released next summer. Philip points out, “It is being produced at the highest standard a bourbon can be made: by one distiller, in one distillery, a bonded warehouse, aged within one distilling period, a minimum of four years and bottled at exactly 100 proof.”
HorRYEzon- a rye whiskey, also in production a couple of years now by the same standards as Matrimony, is expected to be released next summer.
This year, seeded from a not-so-crazy idea, Distillerie began offering cigars, a collaboration with a Nicaraguan cigar maker and PF Importers in Ruston. Aged in the same barrels used in making Cajun Cut bourbon – and with a second batch coming out this month – the cigars are sold in Broussard, Youngsville, Lafayette and Ruston.
Busy as they are, Distillerie Acadian finds time to come to the Delcambre Market and showcases their line of liquors by offering tastings. Talking about their experience of being a vendor, since 2022, Philip says, “Delcambre has such a cult following, month in and month out. We like supporting the community. And we love it when someone who’s never heard of us tastes our products and likes them.”
Distillerie Acadian offers tours once every four months, with the next one in June. Check their website for the date, to be announced.
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