What you should know about RHUM AGRICOLE.

[Edward Hamilton]

There is more to rhum agricole than just the letter 'h.' Distilled to about 72% abv from freshly squeezed sugar cane juice which has been
fermented, rhum agricole is made exclusively in the French islands.

In the sugar cane spirits industry, Martinique is the only geographic area with an Appelation and rhum agricole made in Martinique carries the AOC or Appelation d'origine Controlée mark. Martinique and the other French islands also produce rhum made from molasses called 'rhum industriel' but is most often called 'rhum traditionnel' on the label. Over the years there have been a number of rhums claiming to be from Martinique which don't carry the AOC mark.

When looking at a French rum label look for the words 'rhum agricole' and not just Martinique or Guadeloupe. Over the years a number of products bottled in France have made reference or claim to the islands including Kaniche Martinique and Chauvet. In 2006, a rum with an Appelation Rum Controllée was introduced to the US. Despite the fact that there has never been an Appelation Rum Controllée, the French would have called it an Appelation R'h'um Controllée.

Most rhum agricole is made in single-column copper stills which allows the distiller more control of the distillation process than is possible in a pot still.

Though spelled with an 'h' Rhum Barbancourt isn't considered rhum agricole by the people who make it or by the French. The spelling is consistent, however, with the French heritage of Haiti.

Cachaça, also made from freshly squeezed sugar cane juice is distilled to between 38 and 48% abv and only made in Brazil. Just as not all spirits made from sugar cane juice are rhum agricole, neither are they considered cachaça.

[Rum Runner]

We are ready Ed...Lay it on us!

[Rum Runner]

Thanks for the Elucidatuon Ed...So neither Gaudeloupe Or Marie Galant or any other rock administered by France makes A.O.C. RHUM AGRICOLE?

[Scottes]

Interestingly enough, I went looking through my rums for a couple to review, and came across two bottles of St. James - the Hors D'Age and the Royal Ambre. The labels on both contain the word Agricole in thier descriptions and both contain the phrase "Appelation d'origine Controlйe" on the label.

I have two other Martinique rums, the Kaniche and the Clement VSOP. The Kaniche says nothing about Agricole or Appelation d'origine Controlйe. The Clement says both "V.S.O.P Rum" and "Rhum Clement V.S.O.P" - not an agricole by the looks of it. However, the back label says something perhaps a bit misleading: "The heirs of the H. Clement Estate...offer a wide variety of white rums all certified with the Appelation d'origine Controlйe Martinique..." This seems to imply that it's an agricole, but does not specifically say so. Nor can I find any info on the Web that says it's an agricole - or not, so I have to assume it's not.


I also noticed that both Saint James rums are products of Martinique, while the Kaniche and Clement are products of France. Does the rum have to be a product of Martinique to be an agricole?


Out of curiousity, what type of agricole do you prefer for a Ti' Punch? White, gold, unaged, aged, aged even longer?

[Edward Hamilton]

Originally Posted by Scottes

Interestingly enough, I went looking through my rums for a couple to review, and came across two bottles of St. James - the Hors D'Age and the Royal Ambre. The labels on both contain the word Agricole in thier descriptions and both contain the phrase "Appelation d'origine Controlée" on the label.

I have two other Martinique rums, the Kaniche and the Clement VSOP. The Kaniche says nothing about Agricole or Appelation d'origine Controlée. The Clement says both "V.S.O.P Rum" and "Rhum Clement V.S.O.P" - not an agricole by the looks of it. However, the back label says something perhaps a bit misleading: "The heirs of the H. Clement Estate...offer a wide variety of white rums all certified with the Appelation d'origine Controlée Martinique..." This seems to imply that it's an agricole, but does not specifically say so. Nor can I find any info on the Web that says it's an agricole - or not, so I have to assume it's not.

Actually the Clement Estate used to bottle only AOC rhum agricole but have begun bottling rhums that do no bear the AOC seal. And I should mention that Depaz Blue Cane Amber Rhum is also AOC rhum agricole, distilled at the Depaz distillery in Martinique and bottled on the island. In Martinique, the Depaz bottles carry the AOC mark and the words rhum agricole on the label, but the label for the US import market doesn't have the AOC mark on the label. I am confident that it will be changed shortly.

Originally Posted by Scottes

I also noticed that both Saint James rums are products of Martinique, while the Kaniche and Clement are products of France. Does the rum have to be a product of Martinique to be an agricole?

Currently, rhum agricole can be bottled in Martinique or France but there is discussion of the regulations being tightened so that only rhum agricole bottled in Martinique can carry the AOC mark.

Originally Posted by Scottes

Out of curiousity, what type of agricole do you prefer for a Ti' Punch? White, gold, unaged, aged, aged even longer?

I like rhum agricole blanc at 100 proof, as it is bottled in Martinique. Most of the French distillers bottle their clear spirit at 100 and 110 proof but I prefer the 100 proof in most cases. The old rhums I prefer to drink with a little water and a glass of water on the side.

[woody9six]

OK... after checking at my local rum purveyor, it appears that I have 2 options for rhum agricole...the aforementioned Depaz Blue Cane, and La Favorite Rhum Agricole Blanc. Any opinions one way or the other for my maiden voyange into the rhum agricole seas. I may have a 3rd option in a St James, but I can't remember if it was a rhum agricole or not...if it is, how would that factor in to the decision making process? Thanks in advance.

[John Martin]

Hi Edward,
Would the Westerhall rum with the wax top be considered a rhum agricole? I had this a few years back and it was excellent. The only rum I've found that appeals to me more is One Barrel from Belize.

[Berbician]

Westerhall Plantation rum is indeed very good, but it isn't "Rhum Agricole". Westerhall no longer distill their own rum - they import rum, in bulk, from Trinidad and then age it. As far as I know, all Trinidadian rum is molasses based and can not therefore be "Rhum Agricole" which has to be made from sugar cane juice.

[Edward Hamilton]

Originally Posted by Berbician

Westerhall Plantation rum is indeed very good, but it isn't "Rhum Agricole". Westerhall no longer distill their own rum - they import rum, in bulk, from Trinidad and then age it. As far as I know, all Trinidadian rum is molasses based and can not therefore be "Rhum Agricole" which has to be made from sugar cane juice.

The requirement to be called rhum agricole actually lies with the country or region of origin. In the French islands, being distilled from freshly squeezed sugar cane juice is only one of the criteria to be called rhum agricole.

Berbician is correct that Westerhall couldn't be called rhum agricole if it was distilled on a French island. But not all rum distilled in Trinidad is made from molasses. 10 Cane is made from freshly squeezed sugar cane juice.

[Mr Fjeld]

My only experience of rhum agricole is the one I have open at the moment; Trois Rivieres 1996. I think it's fantastic, and although I haven't had that many rums I think it's the best rum I've had. I recently also bought a 1997 vintage from J.M. Rhums and have heard great things about it. However, I'm a little curious about ruhm agricole - are there great varieties between the different brands? It seems there is a strict appellation controllee and I was wondering if that creates a "uniform" product throughout the island of Martinique?