The Best Rums From Martinique

Épices Créoles (creole spice) is one of three expressions for the brand's Atelier Range, each one highlighting the terroir of Rhum J.M through cask manipulation utilizing their on-site cooperage. Crafted by Master Blender Karine Lassalle, Épices Créoles is a rhum agricole which was aged for a minimum of 3 years in French and American oak barrels with varying sizes and char levels. Available in select markets and nationwide via the brand's website beginning February 2024. (SRP $39.99)

Clément 10 Year is a rhum agricole which mean it begins as fresh sugarcane juice which is then fermented and distilled under strict guideline from the appellation d'origine contrôlée (or AOC). The AOC is the certification granted to certain French products that ensures many rules are in place to control its quality. This rhum has been aged for a minimum of 10 years in a combination of virgin oak barrels and re-charred bourbon barrels.

19th century Clément founder Homère Clément first styled his rhum agricole after the Armagnacs of France, taking cues from the region's distillation and maturation methods. Today, this rhum is produced from sugarcane grown at the estate and pressed fresh from harvest. It's aged a minimum of 6 years, in both new and re-charred oak.

Named for founder Jean-Marie Martin, Rhum J.M is Martinique's oldest and smallest distillery, located in the foothills of the active volcano Mount Pelée. It sources its sugarcane from the surrounding Habitation Bellevue, with juice pressed within an hour of harvest. The XO first rests in stainless steel, then spends six years in re-charred bourbon barrels.

Produced from pure cane sugar grown in the volcanic soils of the island of Martinique, La Favorite Rhum Agricole is distilled in a copper column-still. Founded in 1842, La Favorite is one of the few remaining independently owned rhum distilleries in the world.

Cuvée Homère represents the top marque in Clément's Cellar Master’s Selection Series. While it does not carry an age statement, it is a blend of the Cellar Master's favorite rhums from the previous fifteen years. The blend includes rhums aged in both French Limousin barriques and re-charred Bourbon barrels.

Domaine de l’Acajou on Martinique was purchased in the late 1880s by Homère Clément, who sought to produce rhum agricole after learning distillation techniques from brandy estates in France. Clément VSOP Rhum Agricole is distilled from fresh sugarcane juice in a single-column copper pot-still. It's aged a minimum of 4 years in a combination of new French Limousin oak and re-charred ex-bourbon casks.

Rhum J.M produces their agricole at their distillery mere steps away from where the fresh sugarcane for their spirits is grown at Habitation Bellevue at the foot of Mt. Pelée in Macouba on Martinique. The juice is pressed only an hour after harvest. For this release, the rhum distilled in 1995 was aged 15 years in re-charred bourbon barrels and bottled at cask-strength.

La Mauny hails from the island of Martinique, producing rhum agricole alongside more widely known brands like Clement. Per the company, the minimum age is four years, with an average of six. The distinctive shape of the bottle brings to mind rum vats--and stands out on shelves. Although not explicitly stated, it’s highly likely this rhum is aged in French oak. It’s unfortunately not currently imported into the U.S.

If you see a bottle of Rhum Clément X.O., buy it without hesitation. This gem from Martinique is no longer being produced, and will soon be replaced with another marque. Why? Because the 1952 vintage that is so key to its flavor profile has finally run out (It also includes rhums from 1970 and 1976). A beautiful example of the French style.