🥃 Rhum de la Guadeloupe
EU protected name for rum from the French overseas department of Guadeloupe: agricole from fresh sugar cane juice or molasses rum from sugar factories; at least 40% ABV, vieux from 3 years in oak.
Rhum de la Guadeloupe is an EU protected name for rum from the French overseas department of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean Sea. It covers both agricole rum made from fresh sugar cane juice and rum from sugar factories (rhum de sucrerie) made from molasses and sugar syrups. On sale, this rum has at least 40% ABV.
History. According to the INAO, sugar cane was grown on Guadeloupe from the 17th century, mainly for sugar, and rum production developed alongside it. From 1922 French authorities regulated it with quotas and analytical standards; at that time about two thirds of the rum was made from molasses. The protected name entered the EU list by a regulation of 2008.
Rules. Agricole here is made only from sugar cane juice, with no added syrup, molasses or sugar. It is distilled in column stills or in a Charentais alembic, and the spirit must be below 90% ABV. White rum rests without wood for at least 3 weeks; vieux spends at least 3 years in oak casks of up to 650 litres, while VSOP and XO mean 4 and 6 years.
Marie-Galante. The name may be complemented by the words Marie-Galante if the rum is made on that island, in the communes of Capesterre-de-Marie-Galante, Grand-Bourg or Saint-Louis. The specification mentions 9 agricole distilleries and 3 distilleries at sugar factories. Its closest relatives are the agricole rum of Martinique, Demerara rum and Jamaican rum.
Why this matters to you. The words Rhum de la Guadeloupe on a label guarantee the place of production and checked rules, and the agricole mark means cane juice as the raw material. This rum is strong: at least 40% ABV, and some white rums are stronger. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | on sale at least 40% ABV; distillate below 90% ABV |
|---|---|
| Raw material | fresh sugar cane juice (agricole) or molasses and sugar factory syrups |
| Minimum maturation | blanc — at least 3 weeks without wood; vieux — at least 3 years in oak casks up to 650 l (VSOP — 4, XO — 6 years) |
| Distillation method | column stills or a Charentais alembic |
| Legal basis | EU protected name (Reg. (EC) 110/2008, now Reg. (EU) 2019/787), INAO specification |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Rhum de la Guadeloupe → → → 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Next step
- 🥃 Charentais alembic
- Made from
- 🥃 Sugar cane and molasses
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health
- Part of
- 🥃 Rum
- Related to
- 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Rhum agricole, 🥃 Demerara Rum, 🥃 Jamaica Rum
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that all Guadeloupe rum is agricole?
No. The protected name covers both agricole rum from fresh cane juice and rum from sugar factories made from molasses and syrups.
How long is vieux rum aged?
At least 3 years in oak casks of up to 650 litres; the VSOP and XO labels mean at least 4 and 6 years.
What does Marie-Galante on the label mean?
That the rum was made on the island of Marie-Galante, in the communes of Capesterre-de-Marie-Galante, Grand-Bourg or Saint-Louis.
What is the minimum strength of Guadeloupe rum?
On sale it is at least 40% ABV; the spirit itself after distillation must be below 90% ABV.
How does Guadeloupe rum differ from Martinique rum?
On Martinique the AOC allows only agricole and distillation up to 65–75% ABV; on Guadeloupe molasses rum is also allowed, and the spirit can reach 90% ABV.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🥃 Sugar cane and molasses — Raw materials of rum, cachaça and other cane spirits: cane juice or molasses; rum made from them is at least 37.5% vol. in the EU.
- 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits — Rum is a distillate of molasses or sugar cane juice, from 37.5% vol.; cachaça is a separate Brazilian spirit.
- 🥃 Rhum agricole — Rum made only from fermented cane juice; the term “agricultural” is reserved for GIs of overseas France and Madeira; Martinique AOC since 1996.
- 🥃 Jamaica Rum — Rum with Jamaica's geographical indication since 2016: aged only on the island, and after distillation only water and cane caramel are added.
Similar
🥃 Inländerrum · 🥃 Cuban rum (Cuba) · 🥃 Cachaça de Paraty · 🥃 Domači rum · 🥃 Charanda · 🥃 Jamaica Rum
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- INAO: Rhum de la Guadeloupe / Marie-Galante — rhum agricole from cane juice or rhum de sucrerie from sugar co-products; blanc and vieux (≥3 years in wood); 32 communes; 'Marie-Galante' for Capesterre-de-Marie-Galante, Grand-Bourg, Saint-Louis; cane grown since the 17th century
- Cocktail Wonk (M. Hayes): Guadeloupe's Rhum GI and how it compares to Martinique's AOC — ≥40 % ABV, distillate <90 %, blanc ≥3 weeks, vieux ≥3 years in oak ≤650 l, VSOP 4 / XO 6 years, 9 agricole and 3 sucrerie distilleries, 1922 quotas
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I: category 1 rum ('rhum agricole' term reserved for GIs of French overseas departments and Madeira), category 33 liqueur
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)