Few liquors conjure sand, surf, and warm tropical breezes like rum. And as with a lot of American cocktail culture, the story of our country’s love affair with rum runs straight through the heart of New Orleans.
And the two men who sit at the forefront of rum culture are names you might not be familiar with – Luis Jung and Frederick Wulff.
The former, Luis Emmanuel Jung, was a German immigrant, who arrived in New Orleans in the early 19th century and quickly climb the rungs of the rum trade, establishing himself and New Orleans, as one of the premier rum destinations in the country. His efforts not only helped introduce this now-beloved spirit to the city’s residents, but he also created economic opportunities for local businesses and shaped New Orleans’ reputation as a hub of indulgence and revelry.
Frederick A. Wulff, a Danish merchant, arrived a few years later, and following in Jung’s footsteps, further expanded the rum trade in New Orleans. Combing their extensive network of Caribbean distillers, the 2 joined forces to become the central rum importers in New Orleans and beyond, stoking America’s growing love affair for the sweet spirit. The relationships these 2 forged, cemented the ties between New Orleans and the Caribbean that still exist to this day.
But more than just being savvy businessmen, Jung and Wulff helped shape the very culture and of New Orleans. The abundance of rum, led to the spirit becoming an integral part of the city’s vibrant culinary scene, finding its way into iconic cocktails like the Hurricane and the Daiquiri.
Today, their legacy lives on in the luxury rum brand that bears their name, and their “origin†rums from Trinidad, Guyana, and Barbados trace their roots to the original regions and relationships built by the pair nearly 200 years ago.
In fact, a section of the Sazerac House is dedicated to these 2 men, and the rums they introduced to New Orleans, and we invite you learn more about them and their rums by paying us a visit.
Cheers!
Events
The Weller Classroom Experience
Step into the story of one of bourbon’s most enduring families and discover how William Larue Weller helped pioneer the wheated style that would later inspire the Van Winkle legacy. This guided tasting explores four expressions—Special Reserve, Antique 107, Full Proof, and 12 Year—tracing Weller’s journey from the days of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery through the industry’s quiet decades of the 1970s and 1980s to its modern revival under Buffalo Trace. Guests will nose, taste, and compare each whiskey in an elegant classroom setting, uncovering how proof, age, and history intertwine to shape the signature richness of Weller and the heritage of American bourbon. Open to guests 21+ only.
Bourbon County to Bourbon Street – Classroom Experience
While Kentucky may be the home of bourbon, New Orleans has played an important part in its story. Whiskey traveled down the Mississippi to New Orleans, where bartenders used it to craft classic cocktails. Travelers to the city have enjoyed whiskey, especially when sipping it on Bourbon Street. Join drinks historian Elizabeth Pearce and learn how to make signature whiskey cocktails, while hearing how whiskey became America’s spirit. 21+ only.
The Weller Classroom Experience
Step into the story of one of bourbon’s most enduring families and discover how William Larue Weller helped pioneer the wheated style that would later inspire the Van Winkle legacy. This guided tasting explores four expressions—Special Reserve, Antique 107, Full Proof, and 12 Year—tracing Weller’s journey from the days of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery through the industry’s quiet decades of the 1970s and 1980s to its modern revival under Buffalo Trace. Guests will nose, taste, and compare each whiskey in an elegant classroom setting, uncovering how proof, age, and history intertwine to shape the signature richness of Weller and the heritage of American bourbon. 21+ only.
The Weller Classroom Experience
Step into the story of one of bourbon’s most enduring families and discover how William Larue Weller helped pioneer the wheated style that would later inspire the Van Winkle legacy. This guided tasting explores four expressions—Special Reserve, Antique 107, Full Proof, and 12 Year—tracing Weller’s journey from the days of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery through the industry’s quiet decades of the 1970s and 1980s to its modern revival under Buffalo Trace. Guests will nose, taste, and compare each whiskey in an elegant classroom setting, uncovering how proof, age, and history intertwine to shape the signature richness of Weller and the heritage of American bourbon. 21+ only.
