The inaugural Galvez Rum Festival and grand opening for the Galvez Rum Tasting Room & Gardens on April 27 in Jackson celebrated freedom, history and rum while saluting the role of Spain in the American Revolution.
Outside there was music and activities under blue skies with a welcome breeze blowing while inside three new rums were introduced for tasting.
Four bands provided music on the canopied stage. Joining the Galvez Silver white rum were the new Victory dark rum, the Founder’s Edition rum, and Peri’s, described as sweet and spunky.
Festival attendees were welcomed by distillery proprietor George Schaffer, Mayor Jimmy Norsworthy, and former Jackson resident and entrepreneur Leroy Harvey.
Schaffer recognized Bernardo de Galvez, the fourth governor of Louisiana, as the hero and namesake of their rum which is blended and bottled in Jackson. He also thanked his “rummaster” Willam Manso, of Cuba, for his rum.
The Rev. Brad Doyle of Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in St. Francisville and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Jackson read from scripture and blessed the gathering.
Harvey shared “a history lesson,” that he said he learned partly from a descendant of Galvez who attended the ribbon-cutting for the distillery last fall. The story, passed down by generations of the Galvez family, recounts an event at which George Washington privately thanked Galvez for Spain’s assistance in the Revolutionary war. Washington essentially told Galvez that while he considered the Marquis de Lafayette to be like a son to him, and was forever thankful for France’s significant contribution. Spain's help also played a great part in winning the war for independence, Harvey reported.
Harvey’s talk also explained how the Spanish helped by supplying General Washington’s army with gunpowder. Using elements, including some from Spanish Chile, to make the gunpowder, Spain sent it up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers avoiding the English blockades, he said.
Historic figure Oliver Pollack of the Felicianas paid $1 million for gunpowder, he said.
Also speaking briefly was Robert Freeland of the Order of Granaderos y Damas De Galvez from Baton Rouge. A nonprofit organization formed in 1975 in preparation for the Bicentennial of the United States in 1976 formed to “inform the public about Spain’s substantial, although generally unknown, contributions to the success of the American Revolution.”
Representatives of the group dressed in period attire with Freeland portraying Gov. Galvez. His uniformed and armed escorts were Paul Bergeron and Steven Estiponal. The soldiers fired their muskets to salute Galvez and to kick off the festivities.
Jeff Truax, representing Oliver Pollack, and also escorted Galvez.
In addition to the ticketed rum-tasting sessions inside, outside there were family friendly refreshments as well as more rum-based cocktails. There were food-truck offerings at the venue along with nearby restaurants to purchase food. Paintings, jewelry and handmade cigars were also offered.
Over 200 tickets were sold in advance, it was reported, with more sold at the gate.
More information is available at galvezrum.com or on Facebook at Galvez Rum Distillery and Tasting Room and (225) 634-3006.