Rhum Agricole
Explore our collection of Rhum Agricole from Martinique, a Appellation d’Origin rum distilled from pressed sugar cane.
What is Rhum Agricole?
Location: Rum agricole is primarily produced through in the French Caribbean and other French territories including Guadeloupe, Martinique, Haiti, French Guyana, the Île de La Réunion, the Île Maurice, and French Polynesia.
The island of Martinique is the only location protected by an AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) for Rhum Agricole Martinique.
Fruit: Sugar cane
What is the Difference Between Rum and Rhum Agricole?
There are 2 kinds of rums:
The most common and well-known type of rum are rums made from the residuals of sugar can juice, such as molasses. They are simply called "rum."
Rhum Agricole on the other hand, are made from first pressed sugar cane juice. They are the only rums to bear the Official Appellation: Rhum Agricole.
Brief process for Martinique Agricole Rhums
Pressing: The sugar canes 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.
Distillation: After 3 days of fermentation, the sugar cane wine is then distilled until it reaches an alcohol level of 70%. Rhum Agricole is single distilled in a column still.
Aging: Ceramic or steel vats are used to age Rhum Blanc, while Limousin oak barrels are used for Rhum Brun. 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.
Legal Aging: Rhum Blanc: 3 months in ceramic or steel vats
Rhum Vieux: 3 years in wood for dark or aged rhums
