Rhum J.M grows its cane on a volcano. The distillery sits at Macouba on the northern tip of Martinique, on the slopes of Mont Pelée, and it makes some of the most sought-after rhum agricole in the French Caribbean. Here's what makes J.M different, every J.M bottle we have in stock, and which to buy for a Ti' Punch, a cocktail, or a glass on its own.
About Rhum J.M
The initials belong to Jean-Marie Martin, the merchant who bought the Fonds-Préville estate in 1845 and marked his barrels with them. When Pelée erupted in 1902 and destroyed the city of Saint-Pierre, the blast went west and the distillery survived. It has been making rhum on the same site ever since, and the house calls its volcanic soil the best terroir on the island.
Everything J.M makes is AOC Martinique rhum agricole, the only rum category in the world with a French-style appellation. That means fresh-pressed sugarcane juice rather than molasses, cane crushed within an hour of harvest, open fermentation, distillation on a copper Creole column still run to a maximum of 72% so the cane aromatics survive, and nothing added. The house also runs its own cooperage on site, toasting and charring its barrels to order, which is the key to several of the bottles below.
The J.M signature, in the house's own words, is stewed banana and grilled pineapple over fresh lime, honey, and an anise note unique to the distillery.
Rhum J.M in Stock at Chips Liquor
Rhum J.M Blanc 50%
The definitive bottle. Estate cane juice, distilled, then rested and slowly reduced over six months to 50% ABV, the traditional Martinique proof. Difford's Guide singles out the aniseed note that sets it apart from other blancs. This is the rhum for a proper Ti' Punch, and it's the one Seattle's Rumba bartenders used in the version that won PUNCH's blind tasting.
Rhum J.M Blanc 40%
The same cane and the same still at an easier 40% ABV. Softer and sweeter than the 50, with less pepper. The right first taste of Martinique for someone who's never had agricole, and the pick for Mojitos and long drinks.
Rhum J.M Terroir Volcanique
The cooperage in a bottle. Master blender Karine Lassalle double-chars American oak barrels at two toast levels, then blends three-year-old rhums from those casks and bottles at 48% ABV. The boldest, most wood-driven J.M: smoke, burnt sugar, and a mineral earthiness over the cane. Built for a Rhum Old Fashioned.
The Atelier des Rhums Series
Atelier is J.M's experimental line, a collaboration between Lassalle and Paris bartender Joseph Akhavan that uses barrel treatment, not additives, to push the rhum in three directions. All three are in stock.
- Atelier Fumée Volcanique: aged 12 to 14 months in ex-bourbon barrels given an extreme char, bottled at 49% ABV. Lime, lychee, and honey with a waft of smoke, and nothing else like it in agricole.
- Atelier Jardin Fruité: two years in lightly toasted French and American oak, at 42%. The fruit-forward one, and the most approachable of the trio. A natural in a Daiquiri.
- Atelier Épices Créoles: at least three years in a mix of French and American oak at varying sizes and char levels chosen to push the spice, bottled at 46%. Despite the name, nothing is added; the ginger, clove, and pepper come from the wood. Made for cocktails.
Rhum J.M Shrubb
Shrubb is the French Caribbean's orange liqueur, and J.M's is a marriage of aged J.M rhum with bitter orange zest, cane syrup, and a maceration of local vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. A fixture of family celebrations in northern Martinique, and a worthy stand-in for curaçao in a Mai Tai.
Which J.M to Buy
- Ti' Punch: Blanc 50%. Lime coin, cane syrup, no ice.
- First agricole: Blanc 40%.
- Daiquiri or tropical cocktail: Atelier Jardin Fruité.
- Rhum Old Fashioned: Terroir Volcanique or Atelier Épices Créoles.
- Something unlike any other rum: Atelier Fumée Volcanique.
J.M's aged core range (V.O., VSOP, XO) and the vintage releases sell through fast and are currently out of stock; check the J.M collection for current availability.
Shipping Rhum J.M From Chips Liquor
Every bottle above is in stock at our Pacific Beach shop in San Diego and ships fast to most states. For Clément, Neisson, La Favorite, and the rest of the French islands, see the full rhum agricole collection, or read our complete guide to rhum agricole.