Last post on Distilleries. Distillery fatigue has set in finally. Went off on another tight schedule yesterday.
PS: Reviews are smaller likely thanks to the fatigue that has set in, but hoping this will help future travelers
Habitation Clement
Summary: Big estate, large crowds and a ticketed visit through the estate. Visited the boutique and shop to look for rhums and try some. The tasting is complimentary and the lady was very kind to explain stuff to me in English. Private cask, cask strength rhums - especially the Marsala cask was enjoyed.
Distillerie a1710 (Distillerie du Simon)
Summary: My lack of French was a handicap for me at this one. Beautiful estate and probably the smallest estate, hence the price of the rhums was perceived to be higher than other places. Tasting notes to follow later. The one that stood out was the Deliverande (aged blend of Martinique and Guadeloupe rhums) - it was quite something
Distillerie Le Mauny
Summary: Nice location. They’ve a train ride around the distillery (didn’t do it) - which reminded me of something very similar to St Nicholas Abbey in Barbados. Rhum selection at the Boutique shop was limited and the tastings were okay (tried the XO and VSOP), probably had to do with the crowds as well. Didn’t pick up anything from here, as nothing caught my fancy.
PS: Going to attribute limited pictures to fatigue and the crowds here. Nothing bad to say about the place. Will try their rhums at a bar and review later.
Last stop Distillerie Trois Rivières
Summary: I am in general a big fan of their white rhum, I’ve always fancied them in a daq at home. Needless to say I was excited to visit them and it was a lovely visit. Estate is quite pretty. Lots of rhums were tried, the Single Cask 2006 was quite something, preferred it over the 2005. Must say pricing here was weird. Found a 2006 for 126€ in Europe while it was 140 € in the distillery shop. Another gentleman who was at the shop was doing the same comparison as I, which was quite funny. Definitely visit them, picturesque, lovely people and good rhums. I couldn’t ask for more.
And that folks is a wrap on Martinique.
Learnt a lot about rhum, tasted some delicious stuff and had some myths busted. No way would any of this would’ve been possible without the missus supporting my addiction (sounds like an Oscar acceptance speech now 
) and driving me around while I drank copious amounts of rhum. Last 2 days on the island will be spent beach bumming and wondering how to pay the credit card bills for all the rhums that were procured .
Hope this was/is/will be helpful to some of you if/when you decide to travel to Martinique.
PS: Decided against visiting 1 distillery and 1 factory - H.B.S (really up north) and Braud & Quennesson (visitors centre only). No FOMO though 
, this was as much as I could cram in a trip while staying married.
Cheers!
Shridhar
I’ve been interested in these rums for a long time. I’ve often hesitated to offer splits on them. In general, they are well appreciated by the connoisseurs who tell me about them. But like Neisson, the prices are really high. However, I’m wondering whether I won’t be offering some in mid-March when my store organizes its VAT-free week.
