On the edge of Baton Rouge, near the Mississippi River, lies Oxbow Rum Distillery. Founded in 2017, Oxbow has a spirit-filled mission: “to serve as stewards of our land and sugarcane by creating premium American rum, amplifying the stories of our past and present and serving our community.”
Though founded in 2017, the distillery’s legacy–and that of Oxbow President Olivia Stewart–begins five generations earlier.
“Our roots are in sugarcane,” said Stewart. Since 1859, the cane farm and sugar mill at the southern end of False River, Alma, has been in Stewart’s family. The sugarcane of Alma is the foundation of Oxbow Rum, both in the production process and in Stewart’s journey to leading the brand.
Rum on the Rise: Stewart Steps Up for Family
“My dad has run Alma for over 45 years, and it was my grandfather, great-great uncles and great-great grandfather before him that had run it starting in 1859,” said Stewart…