Saint James
Saint James Rum is among the world’s most historic and enduring rum houses, founded in 1765 by Reverend Father Edmond Lefebure, a French missionary, skilled distiller, and visionary. The brand was initially established in Saint-Pierre, Martinique, to fund Jesuit missions and capitalize on the island’s rich sugarcane resources. Its early commitment to purity, transparency, and international ambition set Saint James apart as a pioneer in the global rum trade. From its inception, Saint James set itself apart by focusing on purity, consistency, and accessibility.
The brand quickly earned renown in France and Europe as a premium agricole rum. A key innovation was the introduction of the flat, carafe-style square bottle in the 19th century. This iconic design revolutionized transatlantic shipping and established Saint James as one of the first genuinely global rum brands, while competitors still relied on bulky demijohns and wooden barrels.
In 1902, the catastrophic eruption of Mount Pelée obliterated Saint-Pierre—then considered the “Paris of the Caribbean.” The disaster decimated Martinique’s rum industry and claimed thousands of lives. Against these odds, Saint James endured, relocating production to Sainte-Marie on the island’s east coast, where it has flourished ever since. This remarkable resilience solidified Saint James’s status as a pillar and symbol of Martinique’s rum heritage.
Agricole Tradition & AOC Certification
Unlike the molasses-based rums found throughout much of the Caribbean, Saint James specializes in rhum agricole, distilled exclusively from fresh-pressed sugarcane juice (vesou). This approach preserves the vibrant, cane, grassy, vegetal, and floral notes that are the essence of Martinique terroir, and demands remarkable technical precision and speed from the field to the still. Saint James played a central role in the creation of Martinique’s AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) system in 1996—the world’s only AOC for rum.
This prestigious certification guarantees:
Strict regulations for cane harvesting, fermentation, distillation, and aging.
Exclusive use of cane grown on Martinique, on volcanic soils rich in minerals.
Specific column still distillation rules (Creole stills).
Tropical aging that accelerates barrel influence.
Through strict adherence to AOC standards, Saint James stands as both a guardian of tradition and a benchmark of excellence for agricole rum worldwide.
Range of Expressions & Innovation
Saint James boasts one of the most extensive and innovative portfolios in the agricole world, spanning every major rum category:
White Agricole Rums (Blanc 40°, 50°, 55° ABV): pure cane juice, grassy, floral, citrus-forward. Perfect for Ti-Punch and cocktails.
Ambré / Paille & Élevé Sous Bois: lightly aged (under 18 months), balancing cane freshness with subtle oak, honey, and vanilla.
Vieux (Aged) Rums:
VSOP (4 years) – vanilla, oak, fruit, spice.
XO (6–10 years) – complex layers of oak, caramel, roasted nuts, dark fruit, tobacco.
12–15 Year Hors d’Âge – rare, prestige expressions with deep mahogany color, chocolate, leather, exotic spice.
Vintage (Millésimes): Single-harvest, single-year releases that captivate collectors and enthusiasts. Each vintage, aged in tropical cellars, embodies the unique story of that year’s climate, cane, and craft—making every bottling a piece of Martinique’s living history.
Limited Editions & Single Casks: experimental bottlings for connoisseurs.
This remarkable breadth ensures that Saint James appeals to casual rum drinkers with its approachable blancs and ambrés, while also captivating collectors and connoisseurs through its vintage, XO, and single-cask masterpieces.
Terroir & Tasting Profile
Martinique’s volcanic soils, tropical climate, and brisk coastal winds shape the island’s exceptional cane and, in turn, the rum itself:
Blanc Agricole: grassy, vegetal, mineral, with notes of lime zest, green apple, sugarcane stalk, white pepper.
Lightly Aged (Ambré, Paille): honey, vanilla, floral notes, delicate oak.
Aged VSOP/XO: layers of caramel, toasted oak, cocoa, dried fruit, nutmeg, tobacco, and leather.
Vintage/Hors d’Âge: depth of exotic spice, long finish, rich mahogany structure.
The hallmark of Saint James is balance: maintaining the pure, expressive freshness of cane and terroir even in its most mature, oak-driven rums.
Awards, Reputation & Influence
Saint James is among the world’s most awarded agricole rum producers, consistently earning top honors at:
Concours Général Agricole de Paris
International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC)
RumXP Awards
San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Critics have called Saint James the “flagship agricole rum,” and it is widely recommended as the definitive benchmark for anyone new to the agricole category.
Saint James is deeply interwoven with Martinique’s cultural identity. At its scenic Sainte-Marie site, the Musée du Rhum (Rum Museum) immerses visitors in the island’s cane-growing, rum-making, and vibrant heritage. Guided tours of the distillery, aging cellars, and tasting rooms turn Saint James into a must-visit destination for rum lovers and cultural travelers alike.
Distributed to more than 50 countries, Saint James is often the first agricole rum discovered by drinkers outside the Caribbean discover. Its instantly recognizable square bottle stands as a living icon of 19th-century innovation and global ambition. With over 250 years of uninterrupted production, Saint James is a living symbol of Martinique’s terroir, resilience, and artistry in rum-making.
