Megan Wyatt

mbwyatt@theadvertiser.com

Just as New Orleans has the sazerac and New York City has the Manhattan, Lafayette now has a cocktail to call its own.

The rouler provides a clean, simple base for customization and its name captures what it means to have a good time.

"Rouler" is a French word that means "to roll" and is part of the local catchphrase "Laissez les bons temps rouler!" or "Let the good times roll!"

At the drink's core is Sweet Crude Rum produced by Lafayette's only distillery, Rank Wildcat Spirits.

The rouler is balanced with sweet and sour, simple syrup, bitters and club soda and is served over ice.

"The nice, earthy flavor of the rum pairs nicely with the sweeter ingredients," said Eli Touchet, a veteran bartender and front-of-the-house manager of Charley G's. "The cool part about this cocktail recipe is that it can be built upon. It's all in the eye of the beholder."

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At Charley G's, the cocktail will be infused with freshly muddled blueberries and sage.

David Meaux of Rank Wildcat Spirits came up with the idea for an official Lafayette cocktail and worked with Paul Ayo of the local cooking store E's Kitchen to develop the drink.

Once the cocktail had been perfected, Meaux had to find a name that encapsulated everything Lafayette has to offer.

"Rouler!" Meaux exclaimed. "It borrows from the heavily cultural phrase, 'Laissez les bons temps rouler,' and it literally rolls off the tongue, being the French word for 'roll' and all."

Meaux worked with the folks behind the local dining campaign Eat Lafayette and its parent organization, Lafayette Travel, to spread the word about his new cocktail.

The cocktail was unveiled during a Tuesday afternoon news conference at Social Southern Table & Bar.

"I'm incredibly encouraged by people's reactions," Meaux said following the event. "Most people have come back for another cocktail. I'm beside myself."

Now through Mardi Gras Day, 11 Eat Lafayette restaurants will be featuring their own versions of the rouler.

You can find the rouler on the cocktail menu at Bon Temps Grill, Cafe Vermilionville, Charley G's, Chef Gregory, Coyote Blues, Dark Roux, Don's of Lafayette, E's Kitchen, Jolie's Louisiana Bistro, Little River Inn, Poor Boy's Riverside Inn and Social Southern Table & Bar.

"I'm actually very much looking forward to doing a rouler tour in Lafayette," Meaux says. "I haven't tried any of the variations yet."

Ben Berthelot, president and CEO of Lafayette Travel, tasted the rouler for the first time during the news conference.

"I think it tastes great," Berthelot said as he took his first sip. "Normally, I'm not a big fan of rum, but the way it's mixed, it tastes great. I can definitely see myself enjoying it — hopefully with a lot of other people."

Berthelot expects to showcase the rouler to tourists visiting Lafayette and to industry professionals during trade shows.

"A lot of communities have a signature cocktail, and we didn't until now," he says. "I hope people think of Lafayette Parish in 20 years and think of the rouler. It's a great opportunity not only to have a signature cocktail, but to also help grow his business."

Meaux's idea to create the city's signature cocktail from his own product is not so very different from Charlie Goodson, the man behind Charley G's, spearheading the Eat Lafayette campaign to support his and other locally owned restaurants.

"David's idea just fits so much with what we're doing," Goodson says. "It promotes our area and helps his business as well. That's what it's all about."

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You can also make the cocktail for yourself at home. Here's how!

Recipe for Lafayette's cocktail, the rouler

Yield: one cocktail

You'll need:

2 ozs. Rank Wildcat Distillery Sweet Crude rum

2 ozs. sweet and sour (can be purchased in bottle or made by mixing equal parts lemon or lime juice and simple syrup)

1/2 oz. simple syrup (make by mixing equal parts sugar and warm water)

5 to 10 drops bitters

2 ozs. club soda

ice

optional garnishes (such as lemon slice, strawberry, blueberries)

Here's what to do:

Mix rum, sweet and sour, simple syrup and bitters. Pour over ice. Add soda and stir gently. Garnish with lemon slice, berries or whatever you'd like.

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