Agricole definition

[Paulipbartender]

We've never had this verified and I wanted to run it by you MORummers. I understood that agricole was supposed to be distilled to no more that 74%, presumably as part of Martinique's AOC. Can anyone verify this? Is there a reason you wouldn't distil from sugar cane juice higher than this apart from the obvious?

[Rum Runner]

The INAO , which governs AOC shows that AOC Martinique Rhum Agricole is to be distilled to no more than 140 proof or 70 percent pure alcohol....If my French is correct.

Perform an Appellation search in the link above for Rhum and Martinique and you will eventually come to a page showing the complete listing of rules for the AOC.

[Mr Fjeld]

According to Dave Broom's RUM it has to be of no less than 65% and no higher than 75% ABV.

[Rum Runner]

A bit of further digging into the typically user unfriendly (as an English speaker) INAO website revealed this to me, which jibes with Mr Fjeld's reference to Dave's book.

Art. 10. - Produit brut :

Les rhums produits doivent prйsenter а la sortie du rйcepteur journalier et а la tempйrature de 20° C un titre alcoomйtrique volumique compris entre :

- minimum : 65 p. 100 vol. ;

- maximum : 75 p. 100 vol.,

et dans tous les cas, ils doivent prйsenter au minimum une teneur en йlйments volatils autres que les alcools mйthylique et йthylique de 225 grammes par hectolitre d'alcool pur.

En cours de campagne de distillation, chaque distillerie doit faire procйder а des analyses de sa production par un laboratoire agrйй par les ministres concernйs, aprиs avis de l'Institut national des appellations d'origine.

La frйquence des analyses doit кtre au moins hebdomadaire.

[Rum Runner]

To comment on Paul's question as to whether there is a reason to not distill fresh cane juice to a higher or lower degree, I see none other than the obvious in Martinique's case.

[Tiare]

Originally Posted by Rum Runner

Perform an Appellation search in the link above for Rhum and Martinique and you will eventually come to a page showing the complete listing of rules for the AOC.

In typical French manner (pardon la France..) its not so easy to find this text..

Look for: EXIGENCES NATIONALES
Texte(s) : AOC Martinique (version consolidée du 12/02/2002)

[Rum Runner]

Indeed Tiare...It's not easy to uncover the rules of AOC!...Thank you for helping to illuminate!

[Edward Hamilton]

Thank you for sorting this out. I thought I'd go crosseyed trying to figure out the French search engine, which confirms what I've been told by the distillers that AOC rhum agricole can't be distilled to more than 75% abv though most distillers work to distill their rhum to 72% abv. in order to capture as much of the flavor of the cane as possible.

[Paulipbartender]

Thanks you guys and girl. I've been quoting the 74% abv mark for a while during our training and I'd never actually had it verified anywhere.

You are all a very wonderful help

[RumBarPhilly]

I suppose that could be one origin of the American stereotype of "The Snobbish French".

I never thought about that though... every other rum is called Industrial rum...