What is Rhum Agricole?

Rhum Agricole is a distinctive style of rum originating from the French Caribbean, particularly Martinique, Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante. It came about when European sugar beet became the go-to source of sugar, and so sugar cane prices in the Caribbean plummeted. Distillers decided to begin distilling rum directly from the sugarcanes instead as a way of diversifying against the strong market headwinds, and so Rhum Agricole was born. These days it is a cultural emblem there and enjoyed as a communal, celebratory spirit.

It is very different to traditional rums in that it is made from sugarcane juice rather than molasses (the by-products of sugar production), as the name meaning "agricultural rum" suggests. It is expressive and a unique experience if you've never tried one before, known to have a herbaceous, grassy character with tropical fruit, spices and earthy notes. A similar rum to try is Clairin, it's own category of Agricole produced on Haiti.

Unlike molasses-based rum, terroir plays a significant role in Agricole. Everything about the environment that the sugarcanes are grown in affect the final product, much like grapes for wine production. There are 3 key classifications to be aware of too:

• Blanc - Unaged white rum that is the most vibrant of the style.
• Eleve Sous Bois ("Raised in Wood") - Aged for at least 12 months in wood, bringing some complexity to the vibrant unaged style.
• Vieux - Aged for a minimum of 3 years in wood, making a smooth rum with extra flavour imparted from the wood such as vanilla, tobacco and cinnamon.