The emergence of "Spiritualism" in Martinique
Rum has always been anchored in history, the life of the people of Martinique. When we discover the island for the first time, we are tempted by the famous "ti-punch", especially for its festive and social aspect. Once back home, you can't help but bring back in your suitcases a bottle of rum which will be during the winter months, the little sunny break, reminding you of the time for a moment, the warmth and the colours of Martinique.
But rum today is much more than just a nice picture. Thanks to their A.O.C. (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) obtained more than 40 years ago, Martinique's manufacturers have developed a subsidiary company of excellence, as their standards and constraints were so drastic.
Rum from Martinique is nowadays exported all over the world and competes without complex with the international competition of the best spirits. Rum lovers from all over the world compete for the great vintages of the A.O.C. Martinique, just as they do for wine.
Faced with this craze, tourism professionals are developing "spirit tourism". Rum brands did not wait for the concept to become fashionable and most of the island's distilleries have renovated their structures and offer visitors a real tourist attraction: guided tours of the estates, master classes, workshops and tasting courses.
Some distilleries such as Clément or HSE also offer complementary attractions by combining rum production with the natural and cultural heritage. They are both classified Remarkable Gardens and also associate Art with their value.
Thus it is very interesting to organize a thematic stay on the " Distillery Route ». An original way to discover one of the jewels of the island whether you are a connoisseur or a novice.
All the distilleries are spread over all areas, from north to south. It is therefore pleasant to travel and live in the four corners of the island according to your program.
New structures such as Rum'Trotters ( Rental of luxury villas ) Travel True or EpicRumTour, the following websites propose ideas for a stay on this theme.
List of distilleries :: Bally, Clément, Depaz, Dillon, Hardy, HSE, Héritiers Madkaud, JM, La Favorite, La Mauny, Neisson, Saint-James, Trois Rivières.
After visiting these major distilleries, including the eclectic Rum Museum in Sainte-Marie (Saint-James), you can bet that you will fill your cellar with these new and subtle agricultural flavours. The distilleries can be visited all year round. But it is only during the cane gathering period (from January to August) that their chimneys smoke.
We present here a small tour of the island's distilleries that will entertain you whether you are a beginner or you are perfecting your knowledge.
Day 1.
The visit of the Saint-James distillery and its museum is a good introduction to discover the world of rum. Located on the banks of the Sainte-Marie River since 1860, the two structures form the rum village. The visit of the impressive metal structure of the distillery will allow you to familiarize yourself with the manufacturing process. In the park, notice the docked locomotive that used to transport sugar cane across the fields. The museum preserves a very complete collection of instruments and bottles that retrace the industrial history of the manufacture of the precious nectar. At the end of the tour, don't miss the tasting offered or even a walk and a few shots at the back of the famous Sainte-Marie tombolo.
In the afternoon, take time to visit the Galleon factory in La Trinité. The last sugar factory still in operation on the island, the property was bought by the Belgian Eugène Eustache in 1849 who modernized the entire manufacturing process. Notice a strange cistern fitted out as a Hindu temple which was built by the Indian workers of the distillery in the 19th century. According to the legend, the owner of the time had given them the authorization because they would have put an end by their Hindu prayers to a terrible drought which was threatening the harvests.
Day 2
After a detour to the J.M. distillery in the heart of the tropical forest, with its unique single casks and exceptional old rums, on the way to the Clément dwelling at Le François, a side track is a must for a visit to the HSE distillery (Saint-Etienne dwelling) at Le Gros Morne. This booming distillery offers a range of rums aged in casks for port, sherry, American whisky and other amazing flavours. This beautiful house surrounded by a beautiful garden is also a place where artists from all over the world are exhibited.
Finally, head to Le François to discover the Habitation Clément and its famous rum. This refined estate, now a museum and contemporary art foundation, blossoms in a beautiful blend of history and great production. Its epic began at the end of the 18th century but it was in 1887 that Homer Clément really gave impetus to production. In 1986, the property was sold to Bernard Hayot who was responsible for the international promotion of the brand. The distillation of agricultural rum is here a very long and meticulous process. The rum is distilled at 74°C and a long period of ageing in oak barrels will bring it down to 44°C. Take advantage of the superb "rum bar" to taste old, very old and extra old rum.
Day 3
Continue your knowledge of Caribbean ragweed by visiting Château Depaz, the only surviving distillery in Saint-Pierre. Before the catastrophe of 1902, more than twenty distilleries were established in the region. Victor Depaz, the only survivor of the family (he was in Bordeaux at the time of the eruption) started the activity again. Today, the cane juice ferments in 12 vats of 30,000 litres capacity each. A tour through the distillery, punctuated with explanatory panels, allows you to understand the making of agricultural rum. A visit to the main house, which has been transformed into a museum, completes the visit.
A little further on, at Le Carbet, stop off at the Neisson distillery, a small family business that will not fail to surprise you with its organic A.O.C. rum, unique in the world, the amazing Esprit à 70° and of course the no less famous " Zépol carré ", because of its rectangular bottle, with its particular flavour, more intense and fruity than the others, which comes from the fact that its sugar cane, which extends all around the distillery, grows on very fertile volcanic land.
In the afternoon, along the road that takes you south, take time to visit the Dillon distillery. At the gates of Fort-de-France, it produces several varieties of old and white rums. During the visit, which illustrates the different stages of production, an old steam engine from 1922 will not fail to surprise you: it is still working to activate the cane crushing system.
Then, you will take the old Lamentin road, passing by the departmental road 13, you will follow the indications CHU ZOBDA QUITMAN - RSMA and you will go to the Distillerie La Favorite, the last rum production unit in Martinique which works entirely with steam. A warm welcome will be reserved for you by the employees and members of the family of the owners. You will visit the distillery, following the production of agricultural rum step by step, and finish by bottling. You will then be welcomed by Emmanuelle in La Favorite's new boutique, where you will be offered a friendly tasting session
Day 4.
Book your last day for a tour of the distilleries in the south. A visit to the Trois Rivières distillery and its magnificent Père Labat-inspired mill is a must: appearing to have come entirely out of a movie set, the distillery produces one of the most popular white rums for the creation of Mojitos with the taste of Martinique! Continuing southwards, towards the Mauny de Rivière-Pilote distillery. The latter is one of the biggest rum producers on the island, pouring nearly three million litres of rum per year!
