We have selected a rum producer from Marie-Galante, a small island off the coast of Guadeloupe, in the heart of the Antilles.
The island of Marie Galante
Upon his arrival, Christopher Columbus baptized the island Maria Galanda, named after one of his caravels. The 19th century marked the peak of sugar cane cultivation, and the island of Marie Galante is still recognized today by the number of its windmills, which will make it more typically called “The island of 100 mills”.
Between tradition and modernity
The distillery is located in the middle of a 140 hectare plantation, between the old distillery and a majestic mill dating from 1821. The new distillery embodies the alliance between heritage and the latest technology in rum.
The process of making agricultural rum
From the cane to the bottle, a long work is done:
1st stage : After being harvested, the sugar cane is pressed. This stage consists in extracting the juice, the raw material of the cane.
2nd stage: During the second stage, the fermentation stage, the raw material is transformed into alcohol by adding yeast. It is at this point that the future rum obtains the characteristics that will give it its identity.
3rd step: By distilling this liquid, we isolate the light products (alcohol, aromatic product) from the water. The rum thus obtained generally has an alcohol content of around 70°.
4th step: Before being mixed with water to bring it back to around 50°, some rums will spend several years in the ageing phase.
Agricultural and industrial rum: what is the difference?
As we have seen above, agricultural rum is made from the pure juice of cane grown near the distilleries, to be cut, crushed immediately and thus to collect the heart of their aromas. However, this is not the case for industrial rum, which is made from molasses, a very thick liquid that is the residue of the crystallization and refining of sugar. Its taste is then much less tasty than an agricultural rum. All our conventional rums (not organic) are agricultural rums (the manufacture of organic agricultural rum does not yet exist).
An exceptional agricultural rum
It is in the heart of the island of Marie Galante that this exceptional agricultural rum is raised and distilled in the respect of artisanal methods. The know-how, tradition and passion of the growers have been passed on from generation to generation. This authentic White Rum with notes of vanilla and spices evokes the warm character of its island of origin and its spirit of tradition intact.
The quality of this rum has been rewarded many times at the Concours Général Agricole. All the spirit of Marie-Galante is found in this connoisseur’s rum where the sweet aromas of the local sugar cane blend perfectly with the freshness of a typical rum.
Some medals obtained :
- 4 gold medals
- 5 silver medals
- 5 bronze medals