What does AOC mean?

The AOC certification for rum from Martinique was introduced in 1996 to protect and promote the uniqueness and quality of rhum agricole from this region. This certification is considered one of the strictest in the world of rum.

AOC stands for "Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée" and is a French certification system that protects and regulates the origin and quality of agricultural products. In the case of rum from the island of Martinique, AOC certification refers to the rhum agricole produced on this Caribbean island.

The most important features of the AOC certification for Martinique Rhum

Raw material - origin - production process - storage

  • The sugar cane used to produce the sugar cane juice for the Rhum Agricole must come from freshly harvested sugar cane from the island of Martinique.
  • The entire production process, from the sugar cane harvest to the bottling of the rum, must take place in Martinique.
  • The production process, from pressing the sugar cane to fermentation with natural yeasts, distillation in copper stills and compliance with a minimum alcohol content of the end product, is subject to fixed regulations.
  • The ageing and storage of Martinique Rhum is also regulated. The rum must be matured in oak barrels made on the island for a minimum period of time in order to receive the AOC label

For the consumer, the AOC is a guarantee of consistently high quality. For Martinique, it stands for uniqueness, traditional craftsmanship and terroir.

Maturation and age of the rhums

Although an age is rarely stated on a bottle, there are a number of regulations on this subject:

White Rhum Agricole AOC must be stored in stainless steel barrels for at least 3 months. The purpose of storage is to absorb oxygen and thus homogenise the rhum.

Rhum Paille AOC and Rhum ambré AOC must be stored in oak barrels for at least 1 year.
After three years of storage, a rhum is considered old "vieux" and may be called Rhum Vieux Agricole.

VO - Very Old: aged for at least 3 years in oak barrels
VSOP - Very Superior Old Pale: aged for at least 4 years in oak barrels
XO - Extra Old: aged for at least 6 years in oak barrels

Rhums aged for even longer have designations such as"Très Vieux" and"Hors d'Age", which must be aged for over 10 years.