Jackson, Mississippi sits less than three hours north of New Orleans, and our cities are inextricably linked by history. The City of New Orleans has been riding citizens between them since 1947. By Amtrak Train, Greyhound Bus, or by car, this classic day or weekend road trip is better than ever as Jackson’s intriguing past is mixing with a worldly present. Adding to the everyday culture of music, food, and fun on the particular weekend that I ventured up, Cathead Distillery was hosting its fourth Cathead Jam festival. The music-centric fest was on a roll before the pandemic struck before being revived in 2023. This event brought forth bands from Jackson as well as all over the country.
Going to Cathead Jam
I checked into the immaculate Westin Jackson, an airy, delightful respite in the midst of the city’s administrative building area. Guitars of some of the best musicians of our time including Elvis Presley and Prince lined the wall. There was little time to relax here as I was ready to get to Cathead Distillery for a tour. It was a very easy walk; the distillery is visible from the hotel and sits just two blocks away.
The Cathead Distillery was celebrating community and music with the 4th Annual Cathead Jam right at the distillery. Cathead was founded in 2010, but it quickly outgrew its initial operational building.
In 2015, Cathead Distillery found a new home inside a historic public school book warehouse that sat alongside a railroad track that is no longer in service. Remnants of the track remain so that you can see where the train cars would offload the products on the porch where you’ll now enjoy a cool drink on a lazy afternoon.
Cathead Distillery wasn’t at all lazy on the first day of Cathead Jam by Dreamnote Foundation, however. While I marveled at the beautiful old building filled to the tall roof with stills, tanks, and products ready to ship, staff members got prepared for an afternoon of musical entertainment and lots of guests. I already knew about the line of high-quality vodkas (the Honeysuckle is always a winner), I became acquainted with Bristow Gin and aged gins, Hoodoo Chicory Liqueur, and the new ready-to-serve Hoodoo Espresso Martini…