Domaine De Courcelles

Domaine de Courcelles was a distillery in Guadeloupe, originally built on the Courcelles sugar factory in Saint-Anne, Grande-Terre (founded around 1862). The distillery’s rum production ceased in 1964 when operations were transferred to Sainte-Marthe; its stills and ageing stocks continued in use until the final distillations in 1972.

The bottlings from Courcelles are rare, collectible vintage rums—most famously the 1972 vintage and even earlier, such as the 1948 bottles. These rums are molasses-based (rhum de sucrerie / traditionnel), not agricole (from cane juice). They were distilled in pot stills and have been aged for many decades (e.g., 38 years, 47 years, etc.), often in oak barrels, then later housed in foudres or tuns to limit evaporation.

Tasting profiles for these Vintage Courcelles rums show deep complexity: layered aromas of tropical fruits (such as guava, pineapple, banana), candied citrus and dried fruits, vanilla, caramel, molasses sweetness, oak, spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves), sometimes herbal or floral notes, and long, evolving finishes with wood, leather, and sometimes smoky or resinous undertones. Because the production ended decades ago, bottles are highly rare, often considered pieces of rum history, and collectible items.