A new distillery opens on Claiborne Avenue
Seven Three Distilling Co., which opened Tuesday (Feb. 21), is distilling liquor on N. Claiborne Avenue. But they also plan to tell a story.
When it fully opens in the spring, the distillery on the edge of Treme will have exhibits on the history of New Orleans, jazz and Storyville.
“We’re in one of the most significant historical areas of the city,” said Salvador Bivalacqua, one of Seven Three’s owners. “Everything that is great about this city has come from Treme, in some respect.”
The first product from Seven Three, named for the 73 neighborhoods of New Orleans, is a 1,000 bottle run of its vodka, called St. Roch Vodka. It starts with a neutral spirit, which is re-distilled and filtered for five days through copper, limestone and charcoal. Pure oxygen is pumped into the vodka at the end.
In the next few months, Seven Three will add a gin, a rum and a whiskey to its lineup.
The Gentilly Gin will start with the same base as the vodka to which will be added juniper and, for local flavor, persimmon and elderflower along with other botanicals.
The Black Pearl Rum will be an unaged white rum. Later Seven Three will release a version of the rum aged in used Bourbon barrels.
“We’re going for a clean but flavorful rum. We’re looking for some floral notes,” Bivalacqua said.
And the unusual Irish Channel Whiskey will be blended at Seven Three from Irish and American whiskeys and aged in used cognac barrels.
Seven Three also plans to distill its own whiskey from Louisiana rice, which will be released first as a “white dog” – an unaged whiskey – and later as an aged spirit.
Seven Three has hired Erik Maxfield Morningstar as its distiller. Morningstar used to work at Two James Spirits, a craft distillery in Detroit.
“He has a great palate and an interesting approach,” Bivalacqua said.
Bottles of Seven Three’s spirits can be purchased at the distillery. The vodka is $25 a bottle. The spirits will also be distributed to area stores.
The distillery’s tasting room is a place to sample Seven Three’s spirits. It also lets Morningstar get feedback on experiments and smaller batches, like a cucumber vodka or an aged gin.
“We get to educate people, but we also get to have fun,” Bivalacqua said.
Through Carnival season, the distillery will have a limited schedule opening from 9 a.m. to noon. It will close Mardi Gras day. After Mardi Gras, regular hours will be Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Correction: The original version of this story misspelled the distiller’s middle name
Seven Three Distilling Co.: 301 N. Claiborne Ave., New Orleans, 504.265.8545
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