Production of this spirit here goes back to the 17th century, when sugar plantations were founded under French colonial rule, and over time rum evolved from a plantation byproduct into one of Guadeloupe’s defining cultural traditions. Today there are nine active distilleries, most of them open to visitors for tours, tastings, and what the French now enthusiastically call spiritourisme.
What makes Guadeloupe especially distinctive is its strong tradition of rhum agricole—distilled directly from sugarcane juice rather than molasses, yielding a drink that´s often grassier, fresher, and more aromatic than conventional Caribbean rum. While it´s Martinique’s agricoles which have the famous AOC designation, Guadeloupe’s versions are widely considered just as characterful, often slightly wilder and earthier in style. Most of Guadeloupe’s best-known distilleries produce agricole, though a few also make the more common molasses-based rum.
Some of these facilities are sleek and modern, while others feel wonderfully old-school, with creaking mills, weathered sugar estates, and rusting machinery surrounded by cane fields. One of these is Habitation Bellevue on Marie Galante, established in 1821, which combines historic plantation scenery (including an iconic windmill) with highly regarded agricoles and panoramic cane-field views.
Read more in my post Guadeloupe and 8 of its Top Highlights.
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