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Introduction to Rhum Agricole

Map of Martinique

Location: 

Martinique Island, French Indies

 

Fruit:

Sugar cane

 

Official Appellation:

There are 2 kinds of rums:

  1. Rhums made from first pressed sugar cane juice, which are the only rums to bear the Official Appellation: Rhum Agricole
  2. Rums made from the residuals of sugar can juice, such as molasses, which is simply called "rum"
Sugar cane fields for producing rum agricole

Distillation:

Rhum Agricole is single distilled in a column still

 

Ageing:

Ceramic or steel vats are used to age Rhum Blanc, while Limousin oak barrels are used for Rhum Brun

 

Legal Ageing:

Rhum Blanc: 3 months in ceramic or steel vats

Rhum Vieux: 3 years in wood for dark or aged rhums

Crushed sugar cane for creating rum agricole

Brief process for Martinique Agricole Rhums:

The sugar cans are first defibered with a shredder, then sprinkled with water and crushed with a mill powered by a steam engine. The juice that comes out, the "vesou," is filtered twice and then left to ferment in stainless steel vats until is reaches a minimum degree of 5% alcohol. 

 

After 3 days of fermentation, the sugar cane wine is then distilled until it reaches an alcohol level of 70%. The white rhums will rest in stainless steel vats for 3 months and will then be reduced to about 50% alcohol for consumption; the rhums intended for ageing will be put into wood barrels.