Tell me about 504King Cake.

504King cake is a seasonal product. will it sell out? 

We were so thrilled by 504King Cake's amazing reception last year, and our goal through the pre-sale is to anticipate our inventory needs in advance. At this time, it is our goal to fulfill any orders placed for 504King Cake. However, we do have concerns about global supply chain issues. The ongoing challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic have resulted in a serious shortage of glass bottles. We are doing everything we can to avoid any major interruption in our production schedule. Guests who order through the digital presale are guaranteed their order.

i'm from out of town but i'm visiting soon. Will you hold a bottle for me in the tasting room for pick up when i get there? 

You bet! We'll hold your bottle for up to one year following the date of purchase. 

CAN I RESERVE A BOTTLE for my friend?

Yes. However, you must be at least 21 years of age to purchase the bottle, and your friend must be over 21 years of age to claim the bottle. Please be ready to provide identification if requested, and always at pick up. 

on the presale website, why does the 504king cake bottle purchase button on the website say "attend"? 

Ignore the word "attend" and pretend it says "purchase". Your purchase of 504King Cake bottle(s) may appear as an event or a ticket, but each purchase represents a bottle for pick up on January 6th. This issue does not appear for any additional online orders of current 504Rum products. Square is great but has some technical limitations that are too long and boring to get into here. TLDR; Don't worry. You're good. 

on the presale website, why do i have to complete one transaction for 504king cake, and then another transaction for my other 504rum bottles?

Please join us in writing a ticket with suggestions for improvement to Square. 504King Cake is considered a digital purchase (since it doesn't come out until January). Other bottles of 504Rum are considered orders for pick up. Apparently, these order fulfillments cannot be completed in the same transaction. Bad news: Egift cards are another transaction, too. (Thank you for being here! We love you!)

when does the presale run?

The pre-sale begins on Black Friday and concludes on January 5th. Bottles will be available for pick-up on Epiphany (January 6th). 

where can i purchase a presale bottle of 504king cake?

Pre-sale bottles are available online only. The link will be made public on Black Friday. Additional bottles can be purchased either online or in the tasting room at 15% off with proof of a pre-sale bottle purchase. 

how are you serving the community through the 504king cake presale?

5% of every bottle of 504King Cake sold as part of the pre-sale will benefit our friends at Grow Dat Youth Farm, supporting programs that nurture a diverse group of young leaders through the meaningful work of growing food. 10% of all proceeds from cocktail specials will also go to Grow Dat from Black Friday through Cyber Tuesday. Happy Raptor relies heavily on local agriculture to source ingredients for our infusions and our cocktail menu. Since we never use anything artificial, ethical and equitable practices in the cultivation of Louisiana's land and food make a difference to the quality of our products, our business, and our community as a whole. For more information on Happy Raptor's extensive efforts to support our community throughout the year or to inquire about the free use of our event space for nonprofit organizations, click here.

is this a liqueur?

504Rum is not a liqueur. Our rums do not taste syrupy or super sweet. In fact, there is a surprisingly low sugar content. (Please see below: "I am diabetic. Is 504Rum a good choice for me?".) You can expect a strong experience on the palate of flavorful, strong rum infused with whole spices, citrus, and unique ingredients. There are no syrups or artificial sweeteners.

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Tell me about the rum.

IS 504RUM SWEET?

​Nope! Many rum drinkers associate sweetness with flavored rums, but that sweetness comes from sugars added to the product after the distillation process. Rum is not naturally that sweet when it comes off the still. At Happy Raptor, we create our flavors through infusions of real fruit and citrus, spices, and oak. We never add artificial flavors or sweeteners. This means the rum is flavorful and strong when it makes its way to the bottle - but not sweet. If you love a sweet drink, we've got some delicious cocktails for you to try!

DOES RUM HAVE MORE CALORIES THAN VODKA OR GIN?

Nope! This is a common misconception about our best friend rum. There is no sugar naturally remaining in rum or vodka once distilled and they have the same calories based on their alcohol content. Sugar is converted to alcohol during the fermentation and any residual sugar is left in the wash when the alcohol is evaporated off. If a rum has a high sugar content, the sugar has been added after the distillation process. ​

I HAVE AN ALLERGY. ARE YOUR PRODUCTS SAFE FOR ME? ​

​We'll do our best, but ultimately you decide. We've got our fair share of allergy sufferers in the Happy Raptor family! If you're joining us for cocktails in the tasting room, we will do our very best to accommodate your allergy before and during your visit. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at hello@happyraptor.com. All of our signature rum products are 100% gluten free so that you (if that's your allergy) and our co-founder and frequent cocktail-tester Meagen can enjoy them fully. For more information on drinking with a gluten allergy, check out our cheat-sheet collab (link below) with Gluten Free New Orleans.

​What Can I Drink? A Gluten Free Guide to Booze

I AM DIABETIC. Is 504rum A GOOD CHOICE FOR ME?

**The information below is an estimation based on general production quantities and ingredients. Keep in mind that every batch of 504Rum is bottled to taste and will vary. We are definitely not medical professionals, and we strongly encourage consultation with a doctor before making any choices that may interfere with your health or well-being.**

Let's play myth busters for a minute.

While 504Rum is 100% Louisiana molasses based (read: sugar), the only thing that carries over during the distillation process is alcohol. This is true of any distilled alcohol. Hence, rum has no more sugar, carbs, or calories than vodka, gin, or whiskey. 

However, rum gets a bad rap. As consumers, we are so used to associating flavored rums with artificial ingredients and a ton of extra syrupy sweetness. In most flavored products, ingredients like syrups, sugars, and preservatives are added at the end of a distillation process, adding all those extra carbs.

At Happy Raptor, our signature line of 504Rum is not flavored. It's infused. Every batch begins with 504Silver (a hearty, Caribbean-style white rum) and is then infused with real ingredients like whole hibiscus petals and hand-cut citrus. We never add any artificial ingredients, syrups, or unnecessary sweetening beyond the bare minimum to round out the natural body of the rum and infusions.

Below are our rough estimates for sugar and carbs in each 504Rum product.

504Silver - Zero carbs. Zero sugar. 

504Gold - Zero carbs. Zero sugar.

504Hibiscus -
Estimated Carbs: 2.2 grams per 750ml bottle // Approx. 0.19 grams of carbs per serving
Estimated Sugar: 0 grams per 750ml bottle
Serving size: Approx. 2oz (Approx. 1/12 of a 750ml bottle)

504Bananas Foster -
Estimated Carbs: 4.2 grams per 750ml bottle // Approx. 0.35 grams of carbs per serving
(derived from bananas in the infusion, as well as a minimal amount of added molasses)
Estimated Sugar: 3.4 grams per 750ml bottle // Approx. 0.29 grams of sugar per serving
Serving Size: Approx. 2oz (Approx. 1/12 of a 750ml bottle)

Keep in mind that cocktails will add carbs and sugar. We are working in our tasting room to provide a large selection of cocktail (and mocktail) options and variations for our guests. In case you don't see something that's a fit on our menu, please ask our team. We are more than happy to help make recommendations, adjust a recipe, or create something special just for you. Discover more about Happy Raptor's commitment to awareness and diabetes on our blog.  
​

I PREFER NOT TO DRINK alcohol. IS THERE ANYTHING HERE FOR ME?

Yes! Happy Raptor's tasting room is about having fun and connecting with our community. If you're abstaining from alcohol for any reason, let our bartender know and it would be our pleasure to make you something special - alcohol free.

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Tell me about the tasting room.

ARE KIDS ALLOWED?

Yes! Happy Raptor is family-friendly. We have a few cloth toys available (that are regularly cleaned) and non-alcoholic beverages like lemonade and soda on hand. We also have a changing table in our unisex restroom and a high chair. Please keep in mind that minors are not allowed to sit at the bar. When in the production area, minors must be escorted by an adult at all times, and little ones should hold hands or be carried. We never serve alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age. These policies are strictly enforced.

ARE DOGS ALLOWED?

Unfortunately, only service dogs are currently allowed inside the Happy Raptor tasting room. However, we have a big rolling garage door at the front of our building and, when opened, all dogs and owners are welcome to hang out in that area. We will gladly pull up a chair for you and puppies can also be clearly seen from the front should you prefer to sit inside.

DO YOU HAVE FOOD?

Outside food is welcome! We are not allowed to have a kitchen at Happy Raptor due to state and city regulations. Feel free to grab some barbecue, pizza, tacos, sushi, sandwiches, Popeye's, or any other delicious treats within walking distance of our space. You're welcome to bring your food inside to one of our tables and we'll make the drinks. Follow us on social media @504Rum for updates on occasional food trucks and pop ups at the tasting room.

DO YOU HAVE AIR CONDITIONING?

No, but don't run away! Come back! Our tasting room has a large garage door and back door that, when opened, create a breeze that proves how original shotgun houses were supposed to work. We have high-powered fans, ice-cold cocktails, and boozy freeze pops in the summer to make the space as comfortable as possible. While these measures absolutely make a difference, you can always come grab your 32oz. cocktail (approx. 4 servings), freeze pops, or bottles of rum to go.

DO YOU TAKE CASH? ​

We do not keep cash on the premises. For this reason, we strongly prefer credit/debit transactions. While we will accept cash, we cannot offer change for your purchase. If you would like to request special arrangements in advance, don't hesitate to reach out to us and we will do our best to accommodate you.

CAN I SMOKE OR VAPE IN THE DISTILLERY?

No. There is no smoking of any kind or vaping allowed inside the tasting room according to city regulations. This policy is strictly enforced.

DO I HAVE TO WEAR A MASK INSIDE THE DISTILLERY DURING CORONAVIRUS?

Please follow Happy Raptor's Safety and Sanitation practices for updated information on how we're working to keep our guests and team safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Full details on the most current restrictions in Orleans parish can be found at nola.ready.gov.

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Tell me about purchasing and shipping.

WHICH PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE IN STORES?

For now, primarily only 504Hibiscus is available in stores. There are three locations that carry all four 504Rum products, including our tasting room.

Discover where you can find 504Rum in your neighborhood.
Make a reservation for pick up.
Learn more about our products.

DO YOU SHIP OR DELIVER 504RUM?

Not at this time. However, there are certain locations  that carry 504Rum whose services include shipment and delivery.

​Louisiana prohibits direct-to-consumer shipments of hard alcohol. Additionally, third-party shipping partners in-state are highly regulated and, therefore, limited. We are working to establish local and out-of-state distribution and shipping partners to make this possible but the process takes times. If you're in favor of less restrictive shipping and delivery of hard alcohol in Louisiana, the best thing you can do is call or write your legislator and let them know. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay tuned for updates.

HOW DO I GET 504RUM IN MY FAVORITE LOCAL STORE?

​Tell your store about us! We are a brand new product, so many folks may not know who we are yet. (AND we'll love you forever.)