MONTEBELLO DISTILLERY

One of the archipelago's most renowned distilleries. It was founded in 1930, with the oldest machines. The family-run business has expanded beyond the West Indies to become a major player in the French market. In Petit-Bourg, the traditional business continues. It was in 1966 that Jean Marsolle and his son Alain bought the distillery, whose crushing plant produced no more than 3 tonnes per hour! After working for the Sainte-Marthe company and the Gardel sugar factory, Alain Marsolle began his career as a distiller. Montebello rums were marketed from 1975, when new equipment was purchased. Since the end of 2011, the fourth generation of the Marsolle family, Grégory and Dominique, have been at the helm of the Montebello distillery. Even today, 90% of the Montebello distillery's production comes from cane harvested by hand by small-scale growers. These growers work on the volcanic soil of La Soufrière volcano, without the use of inputs or pesticides.

On a tour of this family-run unit, you'll learn all about the cane treatment process, from distillation to barrel aging. The tour ends with a visit to the indispensable boutique and rum tasting. You'll find classic agricultural white rums, including "The Bolokos", a tribute to the Guadeloupean punk band, liqueurs, punches and aged amber rums, including the 10-year-old Montebello Jack 42%, aged in Jack Daniel's barrels.