Visit to Maison La Mauny distillery and its Ti Train |

Welcome to the Cabane à Rhum

On arrival at the La Mauny site, I head for La Cabane à Rhum, set into the hillside. Its architecture is that of a traditional Creole house, with a wooden structure resting on a stone base and a flat tile roof with four slopes. The gallery and its charming colors give it all the elegance it deserves. This is where you can taste and buy Maison la Mauny rums. It’s also the starting point for a guided tour of the distillery and its grounds aboard the little train.

Virtual tour

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The ti train departs every hour: mornings at 10am, 11am and 12pm, and afternoons at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm, Monday to Saturday, except on public holidays.

Video

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The train is rolling! Settling comfortably into the carriages, our adventure begins with a dip into part of thesugar caneplantation , then down the long alleyway that leads to the Cour à Cannes. We discover the citrus orchard (oranges are a key ingredient in La Mauny shrubb!) and the Kay Mimi Creole restaurant.

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The guide takes the opportunity to explain the differences between sugarcane varieties, specifying those used by the distillery. She also explains how the company works closely with the Association de Planteurs de La Mauny.

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Les Planteurs de La Mauny Association

Created in 2014, the association Les Planteurs de La Mauny brings together the planters with whom Maison La Mauny has worked for many years. Maison La Mauny was the first distillery to set up an association aimed at highlighting the work of small sugarcane planters and perpetuating the cane business on the island. Today, the association has over 60 members. They harvest the equivalent of 1/3 of the supply of AOC-labeled cane for the Maison La Mauny distillery. The association also provides structural assistance to growers, so that they can be organized, trained and represented to defend their profession and the sugarcane industry in southern Martinique.

The Court cane

We’re currently in the middle of the harvest, known as the “sugar campaign”, which takes place once a year, from February to June. In the fields, the cane is cut in one of two ways: by machine, or by hand with a machete for steep terrain.

I learn that we don’t replant every year: soil harvested by hand will produce sugar cane for 10 to 15 years, machine-harvested soil for 5 to 7 years. As soon as the canes are cut, they are transported to the factory. In the cane yard, there’s a constant stream of tractors and trucks unloading the cane and other agricultural machinery feeding the distillery.

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Sugar cane Heron Woodpecker La Mauny Rivière-Pilote Martinique

The distillation of Maison La Mauny rums

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The distillery

The Ti Train enters the distillery in full operation. The size of the plant is impressive. The guide shows us the huge stainless steel vats that receive the filtered juice from the crushed cane, the vesou. She explains that, once inoculated with yeast for a few days (the fermentation stage), the vesou will give rise to a cane wine that will be distilled in one of the Creole columns.

The distillation columns

The train stops in front of Maison La Mauny’s imposing Creole columns. We get off the train to take a closer look. They’re quite impressive! One of the columns is made entirely of copper, while the other two are in stainless steel. There are 3 of them: the La Mauny column and those of the group’s other two brands, Trois Rivières and Duquesne, whose canes are distilled here.However, each column is different in terms of size, number of trays, history… and each house retains the personality, aromas and typicity of its rums according to very precise specifications.

This is where the heart of the distillery beats!

Inside the Créole column

Our guide explains the process inside the column, at which point the rum exits at over 70°. The guide lets us taste the beverage, known as the ” heart of the toast “. The sensation is powerful, but the taste of the cane and its aromas are already clearly discernible. Everyone takes the opportunity to take photos and immortalize this highlight of the visit.

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Barrel Distillery Trois-Rivières Sainte-Luce Martinique

Rum Barrels La Mauny Riviere-Pilote Martinique

Daniel Baudin Rum Tasting La Mauny Riviere-Pilote Martinique

The ageing cellars

We then continue our journey through the site to the ageing cellars, the domain of Daniel Baudin, voted the world’s best cellar master in Miami in 2019! Day after day, he watches over the precious barrels. He patiently tastes and notes the evolution of each rum, supervising their aging in search of the perfect balance. The art of blending then takes on its full meaning, when he brings together different rums and vintages in the same bottle, to which he gives a singular finish to produce exceptional rums. We board the train for the return journey to the Cabane à Rhum.

Discover Maison La Mauny rums

The Ti Train route

The Ti Train circulates around the estate, and since it runs slowly and the carriages are open, you’ll have plenty of time to take photos while listening to the guide’s explanations and enjoying the fresh air of the Martinique countryside…

The route takes you past :

The cellar where the rum is aged in barrels, depending on the variety (photo stop). This is where the cellar master refines his rums and makes his blends.
The former owners’ house, from the days when the Bellonnie family lived on the site. Now used for events, weddings and corporate meetings.
The ruins of the old factory, shut down in 1984.
The citrus orchard
Glass painter’s store

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The Cabane à Rhum

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We’re back in the boutique with its different areas: tasting bar, sale of La Mauny rums and punches. Behind the counter, the bartender invites us to discover and taste white, amber and aged rums, as well as the brand’s original creations such as Ratafia, Shrubb, punches, Spiced rum.

. Note to epicureans: Cabane à Rhum also houses a wine cellar with several references of wines and champagnes distributed by the group.

I discover the Héritage rhum élevé sous-bois, gold medal winner at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris in 2024, the silver medal-winning Ter Rouj’ white rum and the bronze medal-winning rhum arrangé ananas. At the boutique, I buy the three medal-winning rums and the VO, which bears the signature of the cellar master, Daniel Baudin .

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Rhum2 Distilleriemauny Rivierepilote Martinique

Maison La Mauny rums regularly win awards:

Concours général agricole Paris 2024:
- Gold Medal: Maison La Mauny Élevé sous-bois Héritage 2 ans 40% vol.
- Silver Medal: Maison La Mauny Rhum Blanc Agricole AOC 50% vol.
- Silver Medal: Maison La Mauny Rhum Blanc Agricole AOC Ter Rouj’ 45% vol.
- Bronze medal: Rhum arrangé Ananas 25% vol.

In 2020, the BBS Group won – thanks to the numerous medals awarded to its MAISON LA MAUNY and TROIS RIVIERES brands – the prestigious titles of “Best Rum Producer” and “Best Spirits Producer” awarded by the IWSC, considered one of the most recognized competitions in the world of spirits. and “Best Spirits Producer” titles awarded by the IWSC, considered one of the most recognized competitions in the spirits world.

Before finishing my visit, I head downstairs to discover the sculptures that adorn the garden. A fun and original visit for the whole family, in the heart of an authentic rum house!

Agenda : Masterclass

To take things a step further, I recommend that you sign up for one of the masterclasses organized by La Mauny . You’ll be able to visit the inside of the cellars and learn more about the art of ageing. It’s really exciting!

The “tèt maré”, symbol of Maison la Mauny

Maison La Mauny has preserved on its labels the image of the Creole woman with her traditional headdress, the “tèt maré”. Tèt maré” workshops are regularly organized. Rooted in its heritage, Maison La Mauny is constantly renewing itself and continuing to write its history. (See Agenda)

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