Leblon Cachaca Partners with Pat Croce for Further Expansion

11/10/06 Already a recognized international karate champion, best-selling author, pirate enthusiast, and motivational speaker, former Philadelphia 76ers owner Pat Croce now adds Cachaca authority to his list of achievements with his recent $1 million investment in Leblon, a white Cachaca rum made from Brazilian sugar cane. Croce, now a partner in Leblon, LLC, will also serve on its board of directors.

Croce is no novice when it comes to evaluating rum and fine cane spirits like Leblon. His Rum Barrel bar and restaurant, opened this year in Key West, Florida, is the perfect complement to his adjacent Pirate Soul Museum, which contains nearly 500 authentic buccaneer artifacts. The Rum Barrel evokes the golden age of pirates, right down to the impressive selection of over 100 super-premium rums and cane spirits.

But only with Leblon, does Croce, successful businessman and spirits savant, put his money where his palate is. "I prefer Leblon for the fresh taste of sugar cane that comes through," says Croce. "Yet, it's incredibly smooth, perfect in my favorite cocktail, the Caipirinha. Like everything at Rum Barrel, it's dynamic and authentic in every detail."

Leblon derives its unique balance and smoothness because it is distilled in Brazil in labor-intensive Alambique copper stills, then shipped to France for aging in Cognac barrels to soften the spirit while preserving the fresh cane taste. Always on the cutting edge, Croce is one of a growing number of celebrities to take a stake in fine spirits, and the only one to single out a super-premium Cachaca as his personal favorite.

Best of all, you don't have to travel to Brazil, or even Key West, for a taste of Leblon. Only nine months after its debut, Leblon is available in 20 states, priced around $30 per 750 ml bottle. Leblon Caipirinhas are the rage in popular establishments such as Kittichai in New York, Nikki Beach in Miami, and Asia de Cuba in Los Angeles.