Description

Martinique has been renowned for its exceptional terroir for sugarcane cultivation long before Homère Clément came up with the innovative idea to press sugarcane for producing Rhum Agricole. In 1887, during the pinnacle of the sugar crisis caused by the emergence of sugar beets and the influx of cheap South American sugar, Domaine de l'Acajou was acquired. This led to a collapse in the Martiniquean sugar industry, devastating the local economy that was heavily dependent on sugar as its principal cash crop. The resulting economic turmoil left many planters jobless, leading to riots against the bankrupt plantation owners and plunging the once prosperous and vibrant island into a state of economic despair.

During these challenging times, Homère Clément, a highly esteemed member of the Martiniquean community and the mayor of Le Francois, stepped in and purchased Domaine de l'Acajou, a prestigious sugar plantation located just 3 kilometers from the center of Le Francois. Spread across 43 acres, this estate was regarded as one of the finest sugar plantations in Martinique. Unfortunately, it was not immune to the stagnation of the sugar economy and was subsequently forced into bankruptcy.

Seizing the opportunity, Homère Clément made significant investments to transform this prestigious sugar plantation into a world-class producer of Rhum Agricole. He called the planters back to the fields, but this time not to refine sugar. Instead, he pressed the high-quality estate-grown sugarcane to extract the first-pressed aromatic and flavorful sugarcane juice, which was then distilled into pure rhum. Drawing inspiration from his enjoyment of fine brandies during his student years in Paris, Homère mimicked the techniques of the Armagnac distillers from southwestern France to perfect the method of Rhum Agricole production that is known today.