REVIEW · NEW ORLEANS
Guided Distillery Tour & Rum Tasting
Book on Viator →Operated by Roulaison Distilling Co · Bookable on Viator
Small distillery. Serious rum know-how.
This guided stop at Roulaison Distilling Co is a behind-the-scenes rum experience in New Orleans, with the extra bonus that you get close, owner-led attention instead of being swept along in a big crowd. My favorite part is how personal it feels: the tour is run by the people making the product, so you can ask real questions and get straight answers. I also like that the five-rum tasting flight is included in the $15 ticket, so you can focus on learning without playing pay-for-every-sip games.
One consideration: the tour is short (about an hour) and the tastings can be strong, so you’ll want to plan for a slightly tipsy, education-heavy finish. Also, it’s not in the thick of the French Quarter, so you may use Lyft or Uber depending on where you’re staying.
In This Review
- Key takeaways
- A behind-the-scenes rum stop in New Orleans
- Roulaison Distilling Co: small facility, close attention
- The 1-hour tour flow and what you’ll see
- Stop 1: Roulaison Distilling Co
- Timing you can plan around
- Your five-rum flight: what’s included (and what to taste for)
- Eat before you go: the tastings can hit
- Where it is and how to get there without stress
- Price and value: is $15 really a good deal?
- Who should book this rum tasting tour
- Should you book this tour?
- FAQ
- Where does the guided rum tour start and end?
- How long is the distillery tour and tasting?
- What’s included in the $15 ticket?
- Are extra tastings required or included in the price?
- Is the tour 21+?
- How big are the groups?
- What is the cancellation policy?
Key takeaways
- Owner-run, small groups (max 8) make it easy to ask questions and keep the experience moving at a human pace
- Five rum samples are included plus distillery-exclusive special release bottlings in the flight
- About 1 hour total means you can fit this between meals and evening plans
- Hands-on process talk links rum history in New Orleans and the Caribbean to how their rum is made today
- 21+ only and the tasting portions can hit harder than you expect, so eat first
A behind-the-scenes rum stop in New Orleans
New Orleans is famous for food, music, and spirits that show up in every neighborhood. This tour gives you a different kind of NOLA moment. You’re not just tasting rum at a bar. You’re seeing the production side of the business at a real distilling location, and you learn why their approach feels different from the way many modern rums are produced.
The standout here is the mix of “how it’s made” and “why it matters.” The tour ties rum’s roots in New Orleans and the Caribbean to the techniques used at Roulaison today. It’s not a lecture that stays stuck in theory. You walk through the steps and then taste what those choices create in the glass.
If you’re the kind of traveler who loves small, focused experiences—especially ones where the guide is part of the operation—this fits your style. You’ll also appreciate that the tour is built to be worth the money without extra add-ons. You’re paying $15 for the tour and the tasting flight as a package.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in New Orleans.
Roulaison Distilling Co: small facility, close attention
Roulaison Distilling Co operates on a smaller scale, and that matters. With a maximum of 8 travelers, you’re not a number. You’re a participant. That’s one reason many people rate this so highly: it feels like a private conversation that just happens to include a short walk-through of the distillery.
On top of the size, the guide is a key part of the value. Andrew, one of the owners, leads the experience. When an owner runs the tour, you get details that bigger operations often skip. Expect explanations about rum from start to finish, and expect the guide to answer questions as they come up rather than saving everything for the end.
You’ll also notice the pacing. The tour is tight at about an hour. That’s ideal if you’re sightseeing all day and don’t want a half-day commitment. It also helps keep the energy up during the tasting portion, since you’re not waiting around for the flight to begin.
The 1-hour tour flow and what you’ll see
The schedule is simple: you meet at Roulaison Distilling Co, you take the guided tour, and you return to the same meeting point afterward. There’s one main stop: the distillery itself.
Stop 1: Roulaison Distilling Co
This is the heart of the experience, and it’s designed like a guided narrative. You start with context—how rum’s roots in New Orleans and the Caribbean shaped techniques that Roulaison uses now. Then you move into how their approach compares to most modern-day rum production. That comparison is useful because it gives you a framework for the tasting: you’re tasting outcomes, not just flavors.
As the tour progresses, you’ll see and hear how the process works in practice, with an emphasis on the craft side. The goal is to help you connect what you’re smelling and tasting to what was done during production. When the guide is an owner, you’ll also pick up a sense of what they care about, not just what they need to sell.
Timing you can plan around
The tour is listed at about 1 hour. In the real world, that makes it a smart “slot-filler.” It fits well as a break from the French Quarter crush, but it still leaves you time for dinner or a late cocktail afterward. Because it ends back at the meeting point, you’re not stuck coordinating a separate drop-off.
Your five-rum flight: what’s included (and what to taste for)
The ticket includes a 5-rum tasting flight—five alcoholic rum samples. That includes a range from lighter styles to more mature, barrel-aged types, plus distillery-exclusive special release bottlings. In other words: it’s not just a single “signature rum” flight. It’s meant to show variety.
Here’s why that matters for value. If you only paid for a tasting flight at a bar, you’d often pay separately and have less control over the lineup you get. Here, the lineup is tied to the story of the tour. By the time you reach the tasting, you’ll already know what the guide wants you to pay attention to.
From what I’d watch for during your tasting:
- Start by noticing how the lighter pour smells and tastes before it gets deeper
- Pay attention to how barrel-aged options feel in the glass—usually more weight, more sweetness, and more spice notes
- If you get any limited edition special release, treat it like a bonus. Those are the kinds of bottles that turn into souvenirs you actually remember
And yes, the tasting is plenty. The flight is designed so you can taste multiple rums without feeling like you’re sipping microscopic amounts. Just remember it’s still alcohol, and the portions can be strong.
Eat before you go: the tastings can hit
If you’re planning this as part of an afternoon, give yourself permission to eat first. Several people specifically call out that you should eat before the tour, and the message is consistent: the tastings are strong.
That doesn’t mean it’s a chaotic experience. It just means you’ll want to be smart about it. Drink water, go in with food in your stomach, and avoid booking something that requires full-on sobriety right after. A distillery tour is a fun place to get pleasantly buzzed, but it’s not the moment to speed-run tequila precision.
If you’re also the kind of traveler who doesn’t drink much rum, you’ll still have options. The tour is described as educational and enjoyable even for people who don’t normally gravitate toward rum. The upside of tasting five different styles is that it gives you a chance to find something you actually like—without committing to one bottle blindly.
Where it is and how to get there without stress
Roulaison Distilling Co is at 2727 S Broad Ave Suite #103, New Orleans, LA 70125. It’s not positioned right in the middle of the French Quarter action. That’s part of the point: you get out of the busiest tourist zone and into a working distillery space.
Practical tip: if you use rideshare, it’s often easiest to take a Lyft or Uber and let the driver drop you at the distillery location. Some visitors note that the business can be a little hard to spot at first and that the distillery sits behind or off the main area, so don’t be surprised if you need a quick look around after you arrive.
Once you’re there, the experience is straightforward. You start at the distillery, the tour happens on-site, and the visit ends back where you began. That makes it simpler to plan your next meal, especially if you’re pairing the tour with dinner in a nearby area.
Price and value: is $15 really a good deal?
At $15 per person, this tour is priced like an impulse win—especially because the tasting flight is included. Many alcohol experiences separate the tour fee from the tasting, and by the time you add tastings, you’re suddenly paying a lot more.
Here, you get:
- The guided distillery tour
- Alcoholic beverages: five rum samples
- The chance to taste a range that includes distillery-exclusive special release bottlings
And the group size is small. Max 8 travelers means the owner-guide time isn’t diluted. You’re paying for access and explanation, not just for a place to stand and pour money into a bar.
One more value point: the tour can be a useful decision tool. If you like what you taste, you can purchase bottles afterward on-site. If you don’t love a style, the tasting helps you identify what to avoid—without wasting hours hunting bottles across town.
Who should book this rum tasting tour
This is a great fit if you want one of these:
- A short, high-impact activity that’s not a museum-style slog
- A behind-the-scenes look at rum making, guided by a real owner
- A tasting that’s included and structured into a variety flight
- A break from the French Quarter crowd
It’s also a smart choice for couples and small groups. The tour’s format—short, intimate, question-friendly—works well when you’re traveling with someone and want to share the experience instead of shouting over a large group.
The main “not for you” factor is time and alcohol tolerance. If you can’t do tastings of any kind, or if you need to be completely clear-headed immediately afterward, you’ll probably want a different activity.
Should you book this tour?
Book it if you want real context with your rum tasting. For $15, you’re getting an owner-led distillery visit plus a five-sample flight with special releases. The small group size is a big reason this is worth your time, because it makes the explanations feel personal instead of generic.
Don’t book it if you hate alcohol tastings or you’re trying to keep the day alcohol-free. Also consider the location: you’ll likely need rideshare to get there easily, and the distillery isn’t in the center of the French Quarter.
If you’re building a well-rounded New Orleans day—food, walkable sights, and one focused spirits experience—this is an efficient pick.
FAQ
Where does the guided rum tour start and end?
The tour starts at Roulaison Distilling Co, 2727 S Broad Ave Suite #103, New Orleans, LA 70125, USA. It ends back at the same meeting point.
How long is the distillery tour and tasting?
The experience is about 1 hour long.
What’s included in the $15 ticket?
Your ticket includes admission to the guided distillery tour and alcoholic beverages: a five-rum tasting flight.
Are extra tastings required or included in the price?
No extra tasting cost is needed. The five rum samples are included as part of the experience.
Is the tour 21+?
Yes. The tour and tastings are 21+.
How big are the groups?
This experience has a maximum of 8 travelers.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.
