I met Derek Domingue Wednesday night at Gris-Gris for the launch of his most recent endeavor, Who Dat Vodka. We both did that, “I think I know you from somewhere look” at one another. “I’m running on three hours of sleep,” he says. Although you can’t tell — he’s dressed sharp, cheerful, friendly and so excited for this release. “The response for orders has been overwhelming.”  Right as Derek says that his eyes follow one of the bartenders who unloads another case of his vodka behind the bar. “We’re flying through those, huh?” he yells. 

Derek, a Louisiana native, is no stranger to the industry. Fresh out of school, he took a job with Southern Eagle sales (several former co-workers from Southern Eagle were there to support, and helped me snag coveted Chef Eric Cook’s apps as they came out). Derek quickly fell in love with craft alcohol. Soon after his job as a sales rep, he started working for Bayou Teche Brewery where he met Lost Bayou Ramblers’ frontman and now good friend, Louis Michot. (Ah ha! That’ s where we probably met, a Lost Bayou Ramblers show). “Louis would help us with the beer in New York when he was on tour in between gigs. It was funny, two Cajun boys causing a ruckus running around New York City marketing beer.” Derek worked at Bayou Teche for five years and during that time also consulted other breweries and distilleries and eventually started his own company, Brewed and Distilled. 

Photos by Jessica Alysia

Derek was the mastermind behind the famous Boycott Bowl Blonde Ale, which caught the eye of Steve Monistere, A.K.A. the man who holds the golden ticket, the trademark to “Who Dat.” Steve reached out to Derek and wanted to collab on something ASAP but the work of producing alcohol was too much for him to wrap his head around.  Derek didn’t blink. A pro by now, he took the reins and his idea for a Who Dat Golden Ale to Urban South Brewery. Another hit. The beer is one of the fastest-selling in the market. Only two months later, Derek linked up with friend and business partner Scott Galante from Who Dat Spirits and Who Dat Vodka was born. Keeping it local, they took it to the pros at seven three distilleries to produce their new baby. 

The Who Dat Vodka bottle just hit shelves last week. You can find it at any Rouses in the state and at their favorite place to see live music, d.b.a. The bottle itself is a work of art. It’s Who Dat Nation’s favorite colors, black and gold and it  reads, “504 Proud, filtered vodka for an unfiltered city.” It features beloved New Orleans characters who make this city what it is. From alligators, Louis Michot himself, Mardi Gras Indians, 610 Stompers, cooks, to bucket drummers (and I think I even saw me on a drunken Mardi Gras day). “We tried to capture the whole Who Dat Nation, it’s more than a sports team, it’s a culture” says Derek. 

“Gris-Gris is the first official home of Who Dat Vodka” says business partner Scott Galante as they give me a tour of a voodoo fanatic’s dream room on the second level of the restaurant. The Samedi Room, a private two-story dining space where the wall is lined with offerings to Baron Samedi, a spirit of Haitian and  Louisiana Voodoo. The Baron is a big fan of the ladies, at times obscene, suave, loves a crude joke, food, drinks, and entertaining. sounds like a Who Dat to me.