By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – It was a Super Bowl party 43 years in the making, but it was good to the last drop for a group of LaPlace siblings that finally cashed in on a barroom bet made by their late father.

In the minutes prior to the opening kickoff of the New Orleans Saints’ first Super Bowl appearance, Timmy LaBranche cracked the seal on a gallon-sized bottle of Old Granddad bourbon whiskey won by his father, Roland LaBranche Sr., during the Saints inaugural game in 1967 when kick returner John Gilliam ran back the opening kickoff 94 yards for the team’s first ever touchdown.

“It was pretty emotional for all of us,” LaBranche said. “There weren’t many dry eyes in the room.”

The moment was the culmination of a promise kept by LaBranche, his brother, Roland LaBranche Jr., and two sisters Netty LaBranche Ayme and Patsy LaBranche Millet. The four vowed to their late father before he passed away in 2005 they would not open his beloved whiskey bottle until the Saints reached the Super Bowl.

“The very first shot was poured in memory of Dad,” Ayme said. “After the game we brought it out to his grave site in Reserve so that he could enjoy it too.”

Ayme said more than 125 people came out to watch the game with the family and get a taste of the aged whiskey. She said when the party was over, and the Saints walked away with the Lombardi trophy as champions, there was very little alcohol left in the bottle.

“It was very strong,” Ayme said of the whiskey. “But everyone said it was very smooth going down.”

Ayme said two shots are being saved for Patsy and Roland Jr., who couldn’t make the party.

The rest was shared in a late evening toast Saturday between Timmy and Gilliam, the man who made it all possible.

“We had been in contact back and fourth and arranged to meet last weekend before he boarded a float in the Bacchus parade,” LaBranche said. “He took two shots and autographed the bottle for us.”