Rhum J.M - Martinique


The valley belongs to La Distillerie Rhum J.M, situated on the east side of Mt. Pelee

The valley belongs to La Distillerie Rhum J.M, located on the Atlantic side of Mt. Pelée, where ocean breezes nurture estate grown cane and fine rhum is produced. Photo taken March 2013.

A new paint job and overall refurbishment is evident in this photo from December 2014

New paint and equipment upgrades are evident in this photo from December 2014

Welcoem to La Distillerie Rhum J.M - Martinique's smallest distiller only uses sugarcane from it's own estae to make it's magical rhum.

Welcome to La Distillerie Rhum J.M - Martinique's smallest distiller uses only sugarcane from it's own estae to make it's magical rhums.

Emmanuel Becheau & column stills

Managing Director Emmanuel Becheau & column stills greet us.

La distillerie J.M; sugarcane, oak barrels and more

La distillerie J.M; sugarcane, oak barrels and more.

J.M Cane Fields

Driving through J.M sugarccane fields toward Mt. Pelée with the Atlantic Ocean in behind us.

Sampling the water from Mt. Pelée that supplies Distillerie Rum J

Sampling the water runoff from Mt. Pelée that supplies the Rum J.M distillery

Mechanical Cane harvester lops off th e unwanted top of the sugarcasne stalk while contra-rotating circular blades cut stalks close to the ground. Harvested stalks are blown into the attendant truck.

Mechanical cane harvester lops off the unwanted top of the sugarcane stalk while contra-rotating circular blades cut stalks close to the ground where sugar is concentrated. Twin opposing screws pull cane stalks into the chipper, then ejected into the attending dump truck. Watching this machine made my privates hurt.

Using only its own yellow, red and bleu cane, bottle, La Distilleris J.M produces fine rhum

From cane field to bottle, J.M produces fine rhum using only its own estate grown yellow, red and bleu sugarcane.

Sugarcane cut fresh from J.M's estate is trucked immediately to the distillery for crushing, then fermenting within a few hours. The payload will be dumped down a chute into the crusher below.

Sugarcane cut fresh on J.M's estate is trucked immediately to the distillery for crushing, then fermented within a few hours. This payload will soon be dumped down a chute into the crusher waiting below.

Sugarcane stalks slide down the dump chute onto a conveyor belt that carries them to an angry chopper.

Sugarcane stalks slide down a chute onto a conveyor belt that carries them to an angry looking chopper for the first of three cuts.

Steam engine powers the conveyor and sugarcane crusher. It's hot hard work making the finest rhum agricole.

Steam engine powers the conveyor and sugarcane crusher. It's hot hard work making the finest rhums agricole.

Cane is crushed to extract the sweet juice "vesou", then crushed even finer and rinsed with water on these angled conveyors one or more times to extract every bit of sugar.

Cane is crushed to extract the sweet "vesou," then crushed and rinsed with water on these angled conveyors one or more times to extract every bit of sugar. The vesou contains a significant amount of cane pulp, no doubt adding considerably to the aromas and flavors characteristic of Martinique rhums.

Step 1 - Freshly harvested sugarcan stalks are fed into the cutters and crushers. This is the first stage. The paddles and roller work together to force the raw cane stalks along the path to becoming sugarcane juice

Step 1 - Freshly harvested sugarcane stalks are fed into the cutters and crushers. The paddles and rollers work together to force raw cane stalks along the path to becoming sugarcane juice.

Step 2 - Fast rotating cane cutter blades chop the stalks into smaller pieces. The blades need periodic maintenance for replacemnt and sharpening, as is ongoing here

Step 2 - Fast rotating cane cutter blades chop the stalks into smaller pieces. The blades need periodic maintenance, sharpening or replacement, ongoing here.

Step 3 - The small buts of sugarcane are crushed between three rollers, gring thim inot fin fibers

Step 3 - The small bits of sugarcane are crushed between three rollers, grinding them into fibrous slivers.

Step 4 - Conveyor carries slender crushed sugarcane fibers while they are sparayed with water, then crushed again to release very last drop of sugar cane juice

Step 4 - This conveyor transports slender crushed sugarcane fibers, which are sprayed with water enroute to be crushed again, thus releasing every last drop of sugar from the cane.

Filling a stainless steel fermentation tank with "vesou" fresh sugarcane juice after the baker's yeast has been added.

Filling a stainless steel fermentation tank with "vesou" (fresh sugarcane juice) after the Belgian Baker's yeast has been put into the tank.

Vesou sugarcane juice bubbles violently as the baker's yeast converst sugar into equal parts alcohol and CO2

Vesou bubbles violently as the Baker's yeast converts sugar into roughly equal parts alcohol and CO2. Fermentation ususally lasts for two-three days. Sweet foam rises to the top.

J.M's stainless steel fermentation tanks in action

J.M's stainless steel tanks in active fermentation.

Perhaps the airborne yeats and scents produced by the upwind plants in Rhum J.M's opulent garden create a micro-terroir and contribute to the rhum's flavor profile during open top fermentation

Perhaps the airborne yeasts produced by these plants grown upwind in Rhum J.M's opulent garden create a micro-terroir and contribute to the rhum's flavor profile during open top fermentation.

and new tanks for feeding the stills with sugarcane juice

New tanks for the sugarcane juice. Photo taken December 2014.

J,M's single column copper still starts transforms fermented sugarcane vesou into the magic of rhum.

This single-column copper still begins the transformation of fermented sugarcane Vesou into the magic that is Rhum J.M. Photo taken March 2013

The new stands beside the old - a second column still was brought into operation at Rhum J.M's distillery in 2015

The new stands beside the old - a second column still was brought into operation at Rhum J.M's distillery in 2015. Photo taken December 2014.

Outdoor photo of J.M's column still

Outdoor photo of J.M's column still, December 2014.

J.M has 1700 American oak barrels previously used to age bourbon, stored in 2 aging warehouses. Approximately 600 barrels are filled every year

Rhum J.M has 1700 American oak ex-Bourbon barrels stored in two aging warehouses. Approximately 600 barrels are filled each year.

Rhum J.M ages patiently with only the Angels for company. The blessed ones are thirsty too - consuming an average of 8% each year, and reducng ABV about 1 degree per year

Rhum aging patiently with only the Angels for company. The blessed ones are thirsty too – consuming an average of 8% each year, and reducng ABV about 1 degree per year.

Rhum is aged in well managed barrels

Rhum is aged in well managed barrels.

Rhum J.M Sign at Distillery. J.M is the samllest distillery on Martinique

J.M is the smallest distillery on Martinique. Visits are a treasure.

Sampling the 2003 vintage Rhum J.M straight from the Barrel. The aromas in the aging facility are intoxicating.

Sampling the 2003 vintage Rhum J.M, taken straight from the barrel by Managing Director Emmanuel Becheau. The aromas in the aging facility are like perfume to my rhum aficionado colleagues.

Various types of sugarcane are grown and identified on the walkway into Rhum J.M's boutique/tasting room

Various types of sugarcane are grown and identified with standup plaques on the walkway into Rhum J.M's boutique/tasting room.

Emmanuel Becheau, GM of Rhum J.M

Emmanuel Becheau, Managing Director of Rhum J.M, is justifiably proud of the spirits produced here.

J.M's tasting room is full of fine rhum and information on display to help you discover the aromatic and flavor nuances of their complex rhums.

J.M's tasting room exhibits the distillery's full line of fine rhum, and attactively presents information to help you discover the aromatic and flavor nuances of their complex rhums. Here we see some of the spices you might detect.

Sampling some Fine Aged Agricoles in the tasting well-stocked tasting room at La Distillerie Rhum J.M.

Sample some fine aged agricoles in the well-stocked tasting room at La Distillerie Rhum J.M, then warm up your credit card.

Two Incredible rhums in equally impressive bottles - Difficult to choose between Cuvée du Fondateur and the 1995 Millesimé in its crystal decanter

Two Incredible rhums in equally impressive bottles – Difficult to choose between Cuvée du Fondateur and the 1995 Millesimé in its crystal decanter.

J.M VO-VSOP-XO

Rhum J.M VO - VSOP - XO.

© Dave Russell 2017