Hood Sommelier By Jack Beguedou
This week we’re talking with Mike Fruge, owner of J.T. Meleck Distillery, about one of the most unique origin stories in American whiskey – from crawfish farm to award-winning rice whiskey distillery. Mike shares how Louisiana agriculture, entrepreneurial spirit, and a love for innovation led to creating something truly distinctive in the whiskey world.
Discover how a working crawfish farm became home to exceptional rice whiskey, the challenges of pioneering a new grain in bourbon country, and what makes Louisiana’s terroir perfect for craft distilling. This is farm-to-bottle whiskey at its most authentic – straight from the source.
🔥 Topics covered: Rice whiskey, farm distilling, Louisiana spirits, agricultural innovation, crawfish farming to whiskey making, craft distillery entrepreneurship, and regional whiskey identity