Co-founders and former NASA strategists Reed Walker and Jordan Cotton discovered a shared passion for rum and decided to leave their desk jobs to turn the hobby into a business. Cotton & Reed’s goal is to restore rum to the pantheon of great American spirits. This rum aims to take a restrained approach to added sweetness fused with unusual flavor combinations, and a drive to layer in flavor complexity at every step in the process. Look for Cotton & Reed’s products at bars, restaurants, and liquor stores across DC, Maryland, Delaware, and Massachusetts. Under the direction of veteran barman Lukas B. Smith, Cotton & Reed is now serving award-winning cocktails at the distillery tasting room next to Union Market.