Porchjam Distillery sits on Gravier Street in Mid-City New Orleans, where founders Matt Seiter and Sarah Troxell opened their doors in 2020 with a mission to create spirits that capture the essence of Louisiana. The husband-and-wife team transformed a 3,000-square-foot warehouse space into a working distillery that produces rum, gin, and liqueurs using locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible. Matt brings a background in brewing and fermentation science, while Sarah handles the business operations and brand development. The journey started when the couple realized New Orleans lacked a distillery focused on the flavors that define Louisiana culture. They spent two years navigating city permits and perfecting their recipes before opening just as the pandemic hit. The distillery features a custom 200-gallon copper pot still manufactured in Kentucky, along with fermentation tanks and a small aging room where they experiment with different barrel types. Their philosophy centers on highlighting Louisiana’s agricultural bounty, from local sugarcane for their rum to botanicals that grow in the region’s unique climate. Visitors enter a working production facility where you can see the entire process from fermentation to bottling. The tasting room maintains the industrial feel of the warehouse while adding comfortable seating areas and local artwork. Tours include hands-on demonstrations of the distillation process, and tastings feature their core lineup alongside experimental batches. The atmosphere feels relaxed and educational rather than polished, which fits the neighborhood’s creative, slightly rough-around-the-edges vibe.