Rum Connoisseur Interview of The Week JONNY VERPLANCK Head Distiller at Cane Land Distilling Co LLC

Rum Connoisseur Interview of The Week JONNY VERPLANCK Head Distiller at Cane Land Distilling Co LLC
October 4, 2018 Off By Jose Rafael Hoffmann

Rum Connoisseur
Interview of The Week

JONNY VERPLANCK

Head Distiller at Cane Land Distilling Co LLC

1. Who is Jonny VerPlanck?

I am the Head Distiller at Cane Land Distilling Co in Baton Rouge Louisiana. We ferment, distill and bottle premium Rums from a single sugar source here in Louisiana. That source is Alma Plantation & Sugar Mill. Alma is owned by Walter Tharp’s family. Walter is the founder and President of Cane Land Distilling Co. We control everything from the planting of the cane to the milling, fermentation, distillation, filtration and bottling of the Rum. We are Louisiana’s Single Estate Rum Distillery.

I am a California native that has traveled and worked in 40 countries over the last 25+ years as a Tour Manager and Sound Engineer for a lot of great bands. I have been making booze in one form or another since long before I was old enough to purchase it and have always preferred Rum to any other spirit. Over the course of about 8 years and with many obstacles in my path, I finally made the transition from part time distiller and full time music industry, to full time distiller. Leaving California for Mexico and then Belize. I met my wife in St Louis and ended up in Missouri. In Missouri I partnered with Les Bourgeois Vineyards and opened Rocheport Distilling Co and was purchasing sugar products from Louisiana which finally led to a job offer from Cane Land as they were looking for a Rum Guy and I was looking for a way to get “closer to the cane”. And so now here I am in South Louisiana fermenting and distilling an array of Rums from some of the best sugar products in the world. I have access to an amazing agricultural resource and I am truly grateful to be here.

 

2. Biggest achievement you personally feel you have accomplish for the rum industry.

Bringing a premium Louisiana Agricole style Rhum to distribution.

 

3. What made you fall in love with rum and when did it happen?

I have loved Rum my entire life. I was a teenager when I fell in love with Rum.

 

4. What is that thing that makes you want to continue in the rum industry?

I LOVE everything about the Rum category. I want to keep bringing premium quality American Rum to people.

 

5. Favourite Drink + Recipe.

I am a fan of simple refreshing drinks like the Mojito, and Ti’ Punch, and I also make an Agricole Limoncello which embraces the grassy notes and takes them to new places.

6. Where do you see the rum industry today and in the next 5 years?

I believe as more and more people realize what a great spirit Rum is, popularity will continue to increase. You can not make liquor without sugars so why use something else.

7. What do you think needs to happen to grow the premium category of rum?

I think it’s steadily increasing because more distillers are putting better products into barrels and making better cuts than a lot of distilleries have done in the past. Sure, it costs a little extra to make a better heads cut, but the quality is so much better. The end result can only be argued by the accountants.

8. Share some (2-3) of your mentors and how they have help you.

In my previous life I worked in the Music Industry and it’s really similar to the Booze world. There is not a lot of help from anyone. People hold their cards very close to their chest and rarely extend a hand to a newcomer. That being said, I have no mentors but hope to be a mentor to others. I also appreciate certain people for what they have brought to this industry. The short list to those folks would be, Charles William Taussig, Donn Beach, Jeff Berry, Martin Cate, Ian Burrell and all the Tiki Culture people who never gave up on Rum.

9. What 3-5 things do you have in your bucket list for the next 12 month?

Producing 5000 gallons of Agricole Style Rhum from fresh pressed juice from Alma’s mill. A long sail in the Caribbean. Possibly a trip to Martinique/Guadeloupe.

10. Any last words?

Fermentation is half the craft…

12. How can people learn more about you? Website? Social Media Page?

www.canelanddistilling.com
FB-canelanddistilling
IG-canelanddistilling
IG-jvprumdistiller

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About The Author

Creative Director for EmpresasFH and Director of HOFFMANNdesign. Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Mr. Hoffmann has been one of the most important designers for prestigious companies in South America, including Disney, Cartoon Network, Mattel among others.

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CategoryInterviews
TagsCane Land Distilling Co LLC Connoisseur Head Distiller Interview Of The Week JONNY VERPLANCK Rum