Besides Rhum Agricole and the AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée – controlled designation of origin) regulations, Martinique is probably most well-known for the eruption of Mount Pelée in 1902, which destroyed the entire city of Saint-Pierre and up to an estimated 40,000 lifes.
Sugar cane has been introduced by French settlers from 1635 onwards, who, due to the poor sugar extraction techniques at the time, were mostly interested in the more lucrative export crops coffee and cotton however. It was the French priest Père Labat who had the idea to distill the naturally fermented wines of the byproduct of sugar production, molasses, in 1694. The falling sugar prices during the 19th century due to increased competition from the British colonies and the sugar beet resulted in the bankruptcy of many plantations (and thus distilleries), who couldn’t finance their mortgages anymore. But even the surviving ones had to look for other ways to earn a living and so they started to distill from the fermented wines of the fresh sugar cane juice – the birth of rhum agricole.
Depaz (Depaz, Dillon)
The erruption of Mount Pelée in 1902 destroyed the L’Habitation Perrinelle distillery in and almost the entire population of Saint-Pierre. The distillery has been operated by Victor Depaz’ family, who was studying in Bordeaux at that time. It was him, who would be the first to establish a new sugar cane plantation just north of Saint Pierre 15 years later and distillation commenced in 1917. The volcanic soil was extremely fertile, which explains the quick success of Depaz, even making him the Mayor of Saint Pierre at some point. Victor died in 1960 and the distillery is owned by La Martiniquasie today.
The story of Dillon is a bit sketchy and obscure so please don’t blame me if you think that some crucial elements are missing. The Dillon plantation can be traced back to a sugar plantation from 1690. After a gap of no information, the story continues with a certain Arthur Dillon, a colonel fighting in the war of American independence. During a stopover in Martinique around 1779, he gets to know the creole widow Marie-Laure Giradin. As it seems, the estate solely ran a sugar mill until 1928, when the distillery was founded. However, Dillion apparently only became a serious producer of rhum when it was acquired by Bordeaux Bardinet, who collaborate with the La Martiniquaise group, in 1967. The distillery shut down in 2005 and today Dillon is only an ageing and blending facility while the rhum is produced at Depaz.
Depaz produce exclusivley from blue cane and operate a steam-powered mill fueled by bagasse. The rums under the Depaz brand are distilled up to 68-70% by one of their two stainless steel stills, while the Dillon branded rums are distilled in Dillon’s original copper still.
Depaz
- Chantal Comte Depaz 1975, 45%
- Depaz 2002, 45%
- Depaz 2002, 64,9%
- Depaz 2003 13YO (#905) (2003-2017), 45%
- Depaz 2005, 58,2%
- Depaz Blanc, 50%
- Depaz Blanc, 55%
- Depaz Cuvée Prestige, 45%
- Depaz Rumclub Private Selection 11YO (2010-2022), 59,7%
- Depaz Vieux, 45%
- Depaz VSOP, 45%
- Depaz XO, 45%
- Depaz XO Cuvée Grand Saint-Pierre, 45%
Dillon
- Compagnie des Indes Dillon 13YO (2002-2015), 44%
- Dillon XO Hors d’age, 43%
J.M
J.M is Martinique’s oldest remaining distillery and while it is also located in the north of the island, they fortunately survived the erruption of Mount Pelée. In 1790, Antoine Leroux-Préville established a sugar factory in the area and sold it to a certain Jean-Marie Martin in 1845. He would then start distilling and selling molasses-based rums under the J.M label. His children all left the island and the entire equipment of the distillery has been sold by the end of the 19th century. Ownership changed a few times but in 1914, Guastave Crassous, the owner of the nearby Bellevue estate (I wonder how many carried this name back then), started distilling from juice-based wines, producing rhum agricole. They are the only distillery on the island who produce entirely from their own cane plantations and utilise a shifting cultivation with bananas to ensure ideal soil conditions. This means high quality bananas and cane as well as short distances – the freshly cut cane is milled within an hour and then mixed with volcanic spring water to extract the sugars, which is also used for diluting later on. Fermentations takes a short 24 hours, after which the wines are distilled by a single copper column still. A second one has been added in 2016, however.
- J.M 1985 10YO, 50%
- J.M 1986 15YO, 44,4%
- J.M 1987 10YO, 50%
- J.M 1998 15YO, 44,2%
- J.M 1999 15YO, 42,6%
- J.M 1999 21YO “Kirsch Single Cask” (1999-2021), 43,6%
- J.M 2000 15YO, 41,9%
- J.M 2001 10YO, 46,6%
- J.M 2002 10YO, 46,3%
- J.M 2003 11YO, 46,3%
- J.M 2003 Japan Single Cask, 51,4%
- J.M 2004 11YO, 44,3%
- J.M 2004 14YO “Kirsch Single Cask” (2004-2019), 43,6%
- J.M 2007 10YO (2007-2018), 42,9%
- J.M 2008 10YO (2008-2019), 41,9%
- J.M 2015 5YO “Kirsch Single Cask” (2015-2021), 55,1%
- J.M 2015 5YO “The Nectar Single Cask” (2015-2021), 55,1%
- J.M “Armagnac Finish” 9YO (2005-2015), 41,5%
- J.M “Calvados Finish” 9YO (2006-2017), 41,4%
- J.M Blanc, 50%
- J.M Blanc, 55%
- J.M Cuvée du Fontadeur, 48,2%
- J.M Fumée Volcanique, 49%
- J.M Jardin Fruité, 42%
- J.M Joyau Macouba, 51,8%
- J.M VO, 43%
- J.M VSOP, 43%
- J.M XO, 45%
- J.M XO (old version), 47%
- La Favorite Flibuste 1983 30YO (1983-2013), 40%
- La Favorite Cuvée 1990, 40%
- La Favorite 1995 “La Confrérie du Rhum” N°26, 45,3%
- La Favorite “La Reserve du Chateau” 14YO (2000-2015), 43%
- La Favorite 2009 8YO (2009-2017), 48%
- La Favorite 2010 8YO (2010-2018), 52,8%
- La Favorite Couer de Canne, 50%
- La Favorite Cour de Rhum, 40%
La Mauny (La Mauny, Trois Rivières, Duquesne)
In 1749, Ferdinand Poulin, Councilor of the Court of Appeal of the King of France, arrives in Martinique, where he married the daughter of a planter who owned a sugar estate at the current site of La Mauny in Rivière Pilote in the south of Martinique. There they produced sugar and Tafia, a precursor to rum. With the downfall of the sugar business in the 1820s, they shifted their focus to distilling rhum agricole instead. This is pretty much your standard story of sugar and rhum in the French overseas depertments. A bit later they sold their windmill to the Codé family, who installed the island’s first pot still in 1891 to produce rhum. In 1923, the distillery has been passed on to the Bellonnie brothers, experienced rhum makers who, among other modernizations, also installed a modern column still. In 1994, La Mauny acquired Trois Rivières from Martini & Rossi, before their still has been moved to the distillery between 2002 and 2004. Part of the deal with Martini & Rossi was also the Duquesne brand, which now also belongs to La Mauny. Today they belong to the Chervillon Group, after La Martiniquaise was forced to sell them because of their monopoly status. Trois Rivières and Duquesne are still produced with the distillery’s original stills.
Duquesne
- Duquesne Éleve sous bois 1YO, 40%
La Mauny
- Chantal Comte La Tour de l’Or 2001 15YO La Mauny (2001-2017), 64,8%
- Chantal Comte La Tour de l’Or 2005 11YO La Mauny (2005-2017), 51,5%
- Chantal Comte La Tour de l’Or 2006 10YO La Mauny (2006-2017), 57,7%
- La Mauny 8YO, 43%
- La Mauny 1979, 43%
- La Mauny Blanc, 50%
- La Mauny Blanc Ter Rouj, 45%
- La Mauny Vieux XO, 40%
- La Confrérie du Rhum Maison La Mauny 2005 11YO, 49,7%
Trois Rivières
- Corman Collins Trois Rivières Cuvée Bèlè 13YO (2005-2018), 52%
- Trois Rivières 1975, 45%
- Trois Rivières 1977, 45%
- Trois Rivières 1979, 45%
- Trois Rivières 1980, 45%
- Trois Rivières 1982, 45%
- Trois Rivières 1986 10YO (1986-1996), 45%
- Trois Rivières 5YO, 40%
- Trois Rivières Blanc, 50%
- Trois Rivières Blanc, 55%
- Trois Rivières Canne Brûlées, 43%
- Trois Rivières Cuvée du Moulin, 40%
- Trois Rivières Single Cask L 17 12YO (2001-2013), 43%
- Trois Rivières Single Cask 2001, 47,6%
- Trois Rivières Single Cask 2002, 50,6%
- Trois Rivières Single Cask 2003, 48,1%
- Trois Rivières Triple Millésime (1999, 2000 & 2009), 42%
Le Galion
Le Galion is a sugar factory on Martinique, about 20 minutes from Fort de France. It is actually the last sugar factory on the island. Established between 1861 and 1865, its name is derived from the nearby river Galion, which was used as a drinking water supply point by the Spanish galleons. Since 1984, the management of the Galion sugar refinery falls under the umbrella of SAEM PSRM (Société Anonyme d’Economie Mixte de Production Sucrière et Rhumière de la Martinique). While they mainly produce sugar, Le Galion also produces three types of rum: the Grand Fond Galion, the Le Galion and also a Grand Arôme style, which is the result of eight to ten day fermentations.
- Alembic Classique Le Galion 8YO (2002-2010), 45%
- Le Galion Grand Fond Blanc, 55%
- Rum Stylez French Antilles (Le Galion Grand Arôme) 2YO (2019-2021), 50%
- S.B.S Le Galion “PX Cask” (2019), 53%
- Selected Cask Community Le Galion 6YO (2011/2-2018), 60,1%
Le Simon (A1710, Clément, HSE)

Le Simon dates back to 1862 and has been dubbed the “ghostwriter distillery” by several people since they a) are not open to the public and b) do not produce rhum under their own name. Build by the architect Emile Bougenot who owned nine different refineries and Le Galion (Martinique’s last operating sugar mill), Le Simon ditilled Rhum Industriel for the first seventy years next to producting sugar (and candies). In 1971, they were bought by the Groupement d’Intérét Economique headed by Yves Hayot, who rescued Habitation Clément in 1986 and moved their production to Le Simon. Similarily, Habitation Saint-Étienne (HSE), who had to shut down in 1988, moved their still to La Favorite and were acquired by Le Simon in 1994. Today, fermentation and distillation of both brands takes place at Le Simon, but the rhums are then transported to the brands’ original sites for ageing and blending. In total, Le Simon has four column stills, the two original stills of Clément and HSE, respectively and two for the production of rhums for the domestic market.
A1710, Martinique’s most recent brand and distillery, is located at Habitation Simon but they operate outside of the Simon distillery. Crucially, they employ a pot still.
A1710
- A1710 La Perle 2018, 54,5%
- A1710 La Perle 2020, 54,5%
Clément
- Clément 100% Canne Bleue (2001-2018), 41,5%
- Clément 100% Canne Bleue 2001, 50%
- Clément 100% Canne Bleue 4YO (2016-2021), 41,6%
- Clément 10YO, 42%
- Clément 1976, 44%
- Clément Blanc, 50%
- Clément Cuvée Confrérie du Rhum 3YO (2015-2021), 60,9%
- Clément Cuvée de l’an 2000, 44%
- Clément Rare Cask 2000, 44,2%
- Clément Rare Cask (Angélique) 15YO (2000-2017), 53,4%
- Clément Rare Cask (Robert Peronet) 2000 16YO, 55,3%
- Clément Rare Cask 2000, 57,8%
- Clément Rare Cask (Coupe de Foudre) 16YO (2002-2018), 55,2%
- Clément Rare Cask (Lion’s Choice) 4YO “Sassicaia Finish” (2014-2018), 44,8%
- Clément Canne Bleue Vieux ’20th Aniversary’, 42%
- Clément Canne Bleue 2006, 50%
- Clément Canne Bleue 2014, 50%
- Clément Canne Bleue 2015, 50%
- Clément Tres Vieux Rhum 2000, 45%
- Clément Vieux (1990s), 44%
- Clément VSOP, 40%
- Clément Single Cask 2001 8YO (2001-2009), 47,6%
- Clément Single Cask “Vanilla Intense” 13YO (2003-2017), 41,5%
- Clément Small Batch “Nicolas” 3YO, 41,3%
- Clément XO, 42%
HSE
- Chantal Comte La Tour de l’Or (HSE), 46,5%
- HSE 2003 #2003-6 (2003-2015), 47,8%
- HSE 2003 #2003-8 (2003-2016), 47,8%
- HSE 2003 #FRA1421-3 (2003-2017), 47,8%
- HSE 2003 #FRA1307-1 (2003-2019), 47,8%
- HSE Black Sheriff, 40%
- HSE Blanc, 50%
- HSE Blanc, 55%
- HSE 2007 11YO Chêne Francais (2007-2018), 50,8%
- HSE 2007 Cuvée La Confrérie du Rhum 2nd edition, 51,9%
- HSE Extra Vieux Pedro Ximenez Finish 8YO (2005-2013), 46%
- HSE Extra Vieux Rozelieurs Finish 6YO (2003-2020), 44%
- HSE Extra Vieux Sherry Cask Finish 6YO (2004-2010), 45%
- HSE Extra Vieux Chateau La Tour Blanche Finish 12YO (2005-2017), 41%
- HSE Single Malt Highland Finish 7YO (2005-2013), 44%
- HSE VSOP Port Cask Finish, 45%
- HSE XO, 43%
Unknown
- Compagnie des Indes Simon 11YO (2008-2019), 42%
- Isla del Ron Clément (Le Simon 12YO (2005-2017), 53,2%
- Isla del Ron Clément (Le Simon) 15YO (2005-2020), 49,8%
- The Duchess Rhumerie du Simon 14YO (2004-2019), 61%
Neisson
The plantation of the Neisson family dates back to 1922, their distillery to 1931. Today it is run by the founders’ children, who control about 9000 acres of sugar cane. It is thus one of the few remaining distilleries on Martinique that is still family owned. They pride themselves on being the first rum distillery using yeast from its terroir. Fermentation typically last for about three days, after which the wines are distilled in a single column coppper savalle still to 65-70%. The raw distillate is then stored for about three months in stainless steel vats and subsequently, if intended for further ageing, in french or american oak barrels for a minimum of four years.
- Neisson 12YO (2004-2017), 52,7%
- Neisson 12YO (2005-2018),49,7%
- Neisson 2004 11YO Single Cask, 45,4%
- Neisson 2005 12YO (Velier 70th Anniversary), 51,3%
- Neisson 2007 10YO (Velier 70th Anniversary), 58,1%
- Neisson 2007 (Velier/ LMDW) (2007-2016), 59%
- Neisson 2012 Vieux, 58,7%
- Neisson 2015 “Le Chai”, 45%
- Neisson 2015 “Le Chai BdF”, 54,7%
- Neisson Blanc, 50%
- Neisson Cuvée du 3éme Millenaire XO, 45%
- Neisson Extra Vieux, 45%
- Neisson Profil 105, 54,2%
- Neisson Profil 105 Bio (bottled 2018), 53,3%
- Neisson Profil 107, 52,8%
- Neisson Profil 107 Bio (bottled 2020), 53,8%
- Neisson Vieux, 45%
- Neisson VSOP (LMDW) 5YO (2014-2020), 44%
- Neisson XO (2017), 48,5%
- Neisson XO (2018), 48,5%
St. James (St. James, J. Bally)
St. James might be the largest distillery on Martinique. Founded in 1765 by the alchemist Reverend Father Edmund Lefébure in Saint-Pierre, he named his rum Saint Jacques, in tribute to Jacques Dyel du Parquet, the French governor of Martinique who has bought Grenada from a French company in 1650 to establish a settlement. Eventually the brand has been renamed Saint James, to be more English-sounding and to ease exports to North America. Following the eruption of Mount Pelée (1902) and the destruction of the original plantation, St. James moved to Saint-Marie where it is still producing today. About 3,5 million 0,7 litre bottles can be filled yearly and it is said that St. James is home to the largest stock of old agricole in the French Antilles. In 1890, it has been bought by Paulin Lambert, the French importer of St. James at that time. He was the first who tried to patent the square bottle design (even though he failed) and one of the forerunners of product marketing for rhum. In 1947, the company has been passed on to his son and nephew, Pierre and Ernest, who increased production to the point of over-production. Combined with plummeting demand, St. James had to file for bankruptcy in 1958. After a couple of years, it found new investors in Picon, who later sold it to Rémy Cointreau, who again sold it to La Martiniquaise, one of the major players in the spirit business and owner of Depaz and Dillion, among others.
Since 1998 J.Bally is produced here.
J.Bally
- Corman Collins J.Bally 18YO (2000-2018), 56,8%
- J.Bally 3YO, 45%
- J.Bally 7YO, 45%
- J.Bally 12YO, 45%
- J.Bally 1950, 45%
- J.Bally 1953, 45%
- J.Bally 1960, 45%
- J.Bally 1972, 45%
- J.Bally 1979, 45%
- J.Bally 1982, 43%
- J.Bally 1982, 45%
- J.Bally 1985, 45%
- J.Bally 1986, 45%
- J.Bally 1993, 45%
- J.Bally 1997, 43%
- J.Bally 1998, 43%
- J.Bally 1998 18YO (1998-2016), 59,1%
- J.Bally 1999 18YO (1999-2016), 54,5%
- J.Bally 2000, 43%
- J.Bally 2000 18YO (2000-2018), 58,1%
- J.Bally 2002, 43%
- J.Bally 2003, 43%
- J.Bally 2005, 45%
- J.Bally 2006, 43%
- J.Bally 2006 15YO (2006-2021), 57,5%
- J.Bally 2008 (LMDW), 43%
- J.Bally Ambre, 45%
- J.Bally Blanc, 50%
- J.Bally Paille (1980s), 50%
- J.Bally Paille (~2020), 40%
- J.Bally Vieux, 42%
- J.Bally XO, 43%
St. James
- Martinique Pure Rum (St. James) 20YO (1944-1965), 50,3%
- St. James (1920s), ?
- St. James (~1960s), 47%
- St. James (~1970s), 47%
- St. James 12YO, 43%
- St. James 15YO, 43%
- St. James Blanc, 50%
- St. James Hord d’Age, 43%
- St. James L’Essentiel (43%)
- St. James (bottled 1940s/50s), 47%
- St. James Vieux (~1970s), 42%
- St. James 1885, 43%
- St. James 1997 18YO (1997-2016), 42,7%
- St. James 1998 10YO (1998-2009), 43,8%
- St. James 1998 17YO (1998-2016), 43,8%
- St. James 1999 16YO (1999-2016), 42,9%
- St. James 20YO (V&B) (2001-2021), 57,6%
- St. James Fleur de Canne Vieux, 42%
- St. James “La Confrérie du Rhum” BDF 2003 (2003-2018), 59%
- St. James “La Confrérie du Rhum” BDF 2003 Batch 2 (2003-2018), 56,4%
- St. James 2008 8YO (2008-2017), 60,8%
- St. James 2008 10YO Private Cask V&B (2008-2018), 62,1%
- Velier Elliot Erwitt Saint James 15YO (2006-2022), 45%
Other, former & unknown
- Boel Guilly, 40%
- C Heinr Quast Original Martinique Rum (+-1960), 38%
- Chauvet 1968, 45%
- Corman Collins Dame Jeanne Vert (1960s/70s), 44%
- Fine Drams Le Galion Grand Arôme, 58,32%
- G. Hardy Blanc, 50%
- G. Hardy Blanc 1830, 50%
- G. Hardy Paille, 50%
- G. Hardy Vieux, 42%
- Malecon Blanc, 62%
- St. Gilles (Black label) 1950s, 44%
- St. Gilles (Yellow label) 1950s, 44%
- U.P.R.A.N.A. 1950s, 54%
The pictures of the on this page were kindly provided by Laurent and Sascha.