Crafting the rhum
Crafting the rhum

How Rhum Clément is made image 1

How Rhum Clément is made

Rhum Clément is a rhum agricole – i.e., it is distilled from fermented, freshly harvested sugar cane juice (not molasses). Importantly, Rhum Clément is made in accordance with the regulations of the Rhum Agricole Appellation Martinique Contrôlee.

ency 64 image

Production starts with sugar cane grown on Rhum Clément's own fields in Martinique.

ency 60 image

During the harvest period, between February and June, the harvesting is by a machine that trims the unwanted tops off and cuts the cane just above ground level.

ency 19 imageency 43 image

The cut cane is collected from the fields.

ency 86 image

And loaded into large trucks that make the short drive across the island to the distillery.

ency 46 image

The freshly cut sugarcane is crushed to extract its juice, called 'vesou'.

ency 88 imageency 20 imageency 18 imageency 32 image

The vesou is fermented for 24 to 36 hours in open-air vats to produce a sugar cane wine called 'grappe'.

ency 76 image

The grappe is distilled at 75° maximum (according to the AOC rules) in order to preserve the sugarcane natural aromas.

ency 65 imageency 26 image

As well as being made from fresh cane juice (not molasses), Rhum Clément is also set apart from other rums by its slow hydration. After leaving the still at 74% alc./vol. the strength is slowly reduced in stages of 5% alc./vol.. This process takes 2-3 months but is said to lead to a more balanced rum.

ency 53 image

The majority of Rhum Clément is bottled as "blanc rhum agricole" without maturation in oak but a proportion is aged in both vats and casks to become Élevé Sous Bois (1 year) rhum Agricole or Vieux (min 3 years old) rhum Agricole. The very best casks are set aside to be bottled as Hors d'âge and Vintage rhum agricole.

How Rhum Clément is made image 1

Rhum Clément

Status: Operational
Established: 1887
Visitor Policy: Not generally accessible
Tel: +596 596 54 62 07
Website: Rhum Clément
Address: Habitation Clément, Domaine de l’acajou, Le François, 97240
Welcome to Difford's Guide

All editorial and photography on this website is copyright protected

© Odd Firm of Sin 2024