🥃 Rhum de la Guyane

Rhum de la Guyane is an EU-protected name for rum from French Guiana, the French overseas department on the northeast coast of South America. Only agricole rum is sold under it, meaning a spirit distilled from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses. The production zone covers all 26 municipalities of the department.

History. According to INAO, sugarcane has been grown in Guiana since the 17th century, and the climate, terrain and soils give a juice rich in aromas. Rum from the overseas departments once carried special French labels; after the 2009 EU reform these became protected names. Since 2014 the rules have been overseen by a joint council of producers.

Rules. After distillation, blanc rests for at least 3 weeks without contact with wood. Brun is aged in wood for at least 6 months, vieux for at least 3 years. The general EU minimum for any rum is 37.5% vol., with no flavourings and no added spirit.

One distillery. INAO notes that this rum is currently made by a single distillery, which supplies the local market and exports part of its output. Guiana rum may be blended into rums from the French overseas departments, but not into rum from the French Antilles. Its closest relatives are Martinique rum, Guadeloupe rum and agricole rum in general.

Why this matters to you. The name Rhum de la Guyane on a label guarantees the place of production and the raw material: fresh cane juice only. The blanc, brun and vieux marks show how long the rum spent in wood. This is a strong spirit, and the WHO reminds us that there is no safe amount of alcohol.