Martinique is known as the rum capital of the world— and with good reason. The island’s fifteen distilleries produce the highly sought-after rhum agricole, which holds the prestigious AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée) designation. Rhum agricole is distinguished by a unique production technique: freshly pressed juice from locally grown sugarcane is fermented and distilled before being rested or aged in oak barrels. The results range from white rum—excellent in a Ti-Punch cocktail, a national favorite that mixes the spirit with sugarcane syrup and lime juice—to aged dark rum, comparable to a fine cognac and best enjoyed neat. Martinique also produces a variety of rum-based liqueurs made with local ingredients such as coconut and passionfruit.
Taste the world-renowned rhum agricole
By traveling La Route des Grands Rhums to distilleries all over the island, you’ll get a firsthand look at the production process and have opportunities to sample Martinique’s most celebrated rums amid stunning natural surroundings.
