Rum from the Caribbean
When you hear Caribbean, you start dreaming... sea, beach and a drink in your hand ... Our range therefore mainly comprises rums from the Caribbean, from the islands of Barbados, Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and the French Antilles. We would particularly like to highlight the island of Martinique, which we were the first rum region to visit in spring 2024.
Martinique
The island of Martinique belongs to the Lesser Antilles and is a French overseas department. There are a considerable number of rum distilleries and even more rum brands, as some rum distilleries produce several brands. For historical reasons, almost exclusively Rhum Agricole is produced. Rhum Agricole is made from sugar cane juice and not molasses. Its flavour is floral, fruity and extremely complex, and it bears the prestigious AOC seal of quality.
Special features of rum from Martinique
- As a French department, Martinique writes rhum with an additional 'H'.
- Rhum Agricole is produced from fresh sugar cane juice, in contrast to molasses rum, which is obtained from the by-product of sugar production.
- Production is subject to strict regulations and quality standards. The process involves pressing the sugar cane into juice, fermentation with natural yeasts and distillation in copper stills.
- The AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) seal of quality guarantees that the rhum is produced according to defined standards.
Read here what is behind the AOC seal of quality!
Some history
The cultivation of sugar cane is closely linked to European colonisation. As early as the 17th century, European settlers, particularly the French, began to cultivate sugar cane on the island for the production of sugar. As on other Caribbean islands, the cultivation of sugar cane on Martinique was highly dependent on slave labour. A by-product of sugar production was molasses, which was later used for rum production. Rum was produced from molasses for a long time until sugar beet replaced sugar cane for sugar production due to additional taxes, starting in Europe. Where there is no sugar production, there is no molasses! From then on, a different type of rum was created: rhum agricole. This is made from freshly pressed sugar cane juice.
More recently, in 1996, Martinique rum was awarded AOC certification, which regulates the origin and quality of Martinique rum.
To this day, rum is an important economic factor for the island of Martinique!
Rums in Martinique
The well-known rum brands in Martinique include Clément, Depaz, Dillon, Rhum J.M., Neisson, Saint James and Trois-Rivières. All of them are Rhum Agricole, which is distilled on the basis of sugar cane juice. Many are labelled with the AOC seal.
Barbados
The island is considered the cradle of rum and shows its original character! Rum is made from molasses in Barbados. Molasses is a by-product of sugar production. The result is an English-style rum. It has a classic flavour. The first rum distilleries were established in the 17th century when sugar plantation owners began distilling surplus molasses. Mount Gay Distillery is the oldest rum distillery in the world. Rum is often distilled on the island using the pot still or column still method. Used bourbon barrels as well as sherry and port wine barrels are used for barrel ageing. The tropical climate favours barrel maturation.
Cuba
Cuban rum is known worldwide and is an important export alongside Cuban cigars. It is distilled from molasses in the Spanish style. Many Cuban rum distilleries use continuous distillation processes that produce a light and pure rum. The flavour is smooth and mild with a subtle sweetness. This style is typical of Cuban rum and differs from the heavier, flavoured rums produced in other Caribbean countries. There are no privately run distilleries in the socialist country; the companies are owned by the Cuban government. The international distribution of the island's most famous rum, Havana Club, has been handled by Pernod Ricard since 1993.
Jamaica
Rum from Jamaica is characterised by wild fermentation, is spicy and dark, mostly made from molasses and distilled in the English style in pot stills. It is also known for its often high ester content, which gives it a flavour profile of tropical fruits, bananas and spices. It is mainly stored in oak barrels. The oldest distillery is the Appleton Estate in Nassau Valley, founded in 1749. The best-known distillery is the Hampden Estate Distillery. As on all Caribbean islands, rum production is closely linked to sugar production and slavery.
Dominican Republic
Bananas, coffee and cocoa are among the export goods alongside sugar cane, which is grown for rum production. Rum is produced on the island in the Spanish style from molasses. It is mainly distilled in column stills and produces a smooth, sweet rum that is pleasant to drink. The best-known varieties are Brugal and Matusalem. At the Brugal distillery, a woman, Jassil Villanueva, is responsible for the flavour. She bears the title "Maestra Ronera".
Rum from the Dominican Republic is very similar to rum from Cuba. This is mainly due to the fact that the Oliver family left Cuba for the Dominican Republic during the Cuban War of Independence and continued to produce rum there.
Puerto Rico
Bacardi - one of the best-known and largest rum brands in the world - has its origins in Puerto Rico. Rum on Puerto Rico is produced according to US standards, as the island is a territory of the United States. Ron Centenario is also one of the island's best-known rums.
Central America
Rum distilleries have also established themselves on the mainland in Central America. Almost all countries between Mexico in North America and Colombia in South America grow sugar cane and are in the rum business.
South America
The climatic conditions for the cultivation of sugar cane were favourable and so rum production followed sugar production. Rum in the Spanish and French style became established from the 17th century and found its way to Europe.
Africa
When people talk about African rum, they mean rum from the African islands located in the Indian Ocean in the east of Africa, Mauritius, La Réunion and the Seychelles.
Sugar cane is the main crop grown in Mauritius. The French brought it to the island. This meant that rum production was not far away. The flightless dodo bird is the island's emblem and is also depicted on the famous Lazy Dodo rum from Grays Distillery. Molasses from the company's own sugar cane cultivation and barrels from South Africa make up the rum.
The d'Offay brothers, who share a great passion for rum, founded the Takamaka distillery, Trois Frères Distillery - the only rum distillery in the Seychelles - in 2002. Takamaka is the name of the southern part of the island of Mahé off the East African coast.
The sugar factory with the adjoining Savanna distillery is one of the three rum distilleries on the island. The abundance of spices and fruits, such as vanilla, ginger, lychee and bananas, are good prerequisites for the typical Rhum Arrangé, a drink made from clear rum and these same fruits and spices.
As mentioned at the beginning, rum distilleries can be found in many other countries around the world outside the rum nations. It is produced on the Australian continent, in the Philippines, in India at the Amrut distillery, already known from whisky, and in Spain, as well as on the islands of Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and other countries around the world.
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