Take the path and follow the signs. You can possibly park along the mill if there is space available. You will not have a hard time finding space with the car park a little further down.

Upon your descent from the vehicle, you can observe that on the estate, you have souvenir shops available. Two shops located in the bamboo houses and two lower down near the majestic Fromager tree.

You can also visit the emblem of Habitation Trois-Rivières, this large windmill that crushed the sugar cane using these three cylinders powered by the wings of the mill. Technical panels will be available inside the mill to explain the operation of these windmills.

Located next to this mill, a shop is available where you will be entitled to a free tasting of different rum. You can also buy tickets for 3 euros per person to visit the Habitation Trois-Rivières facilities. Today, the site offers only the visit of the facilities, rum Trois-Rivières is manufactured on the Habitation La Mauny, in the town of Rivières-Pilote (15 minutes drive). Take the opportunity to go shopping and enjoy a glass of rum on the terrace of the shop while enjoying the view of the estate. The shop also offers glasses, t-shirts, recipe books, etc …..

A little of history…….

In the 19th century, many rum distilleries were mainly sugar houses. They distilled their rum from the molasses resulting from the manufacture of sugar. The rise of the invention of the steam engine and its adoption in sugar houses will intensify and concentrate sugar production in large factories. The isolated dwellings will then concentrate exclusively on the manufacture of agricultural rum, improved by the adoption of the European imported tray column replacing the still. After 1960, the closure of most sugar houses put an end to the production of industrial rum. The agricultural rum takes place with these flavors and its terroir, making it a rum recognized throughout the world. Starting from the nine still steaming distilleries, the Habitation Trois-Rivières has remained an artisanal distillery.

The Habitation Trois-Rivières estate covers 2,000 hectares and is located in the south of the island since the 1660s (largest concession ever attributed to the West Indies). Nicolas Fouquet, superintendent of finance of Louis XIV, was the owner before falling into disgrace. Then over the years, many owners have succeeded and allowed the development of a strong sugar business with including three sweets on the field.

In 1785, Etienne Marraud des Grottes, powerful owner of the North of the island, acquires the field of the Habitation Trois-Rivières and adjoins the manufacture of rum with that of the sugar mill. But it is only in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that the activity of rum will really start.

In 1905, Amédée Aubéry, a powerful industrialist, bought the estate, stopped the production of sugar and began producing rum Trois-Rivières.

In 1940, the distillery Dizac, located in the town of Diamant, is transferred to Trois-Rivières. The production of agricultural rum from cane juice begins.

In 1953, the Marraud des Grottes family became again the owner of the property. Already the owner of the Céron distillery and the Duquesne brand, it sells old Trois-Rivières rums under the Duquesne brand until 1972.

In 1980, France and all of Europe will discover and taste the Trois Rivières rums.

In 1994, the Trois Rivières distillery was taken over by the company B.B.S, already owner of Habitation La Mauny.

In 1996, rum Trois Rivières obtains the label AOC (Appellation Martinique Contrôlée).

In 2004, the production of Trois Rivières was moved to the town of Rivière Pilote, its precious original distillation column was reassembled on the new site, guaranteeing their quality and uniqueness to rums with the label Turquoise. The area of Habitation Trois-Rivières, perfectly maintained, still hosts aging tanks.

To visit the facilities, the departure is lower when you go towards the Fromager Tree after the stainless steel tanks. There are slots for visits (Monday to Friday: 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00, Saturday: 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30).

The visit is very interesting, a guide explains the different stages of the production of rum, cutting the cane until distillation. The facilities are still present, including the Habitation steam engine that starts a few minutes to show you all the progress of the mechanism that crushed including sugar cane to get the juice and the “vesous”.

After their explanations, they will invite you to do a tasting of their different rum.

Personally, the old rum VSOP left me an excellent taste memory. Do not hesitate to go to their website to learn about the different rum made by Habitation Trois-Rivières.

Do not hesitate to post you commentaries or to ask for information on contact@domloisirsetculture.fr.

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Dom Loisirs et Culture at your service.

OLIVIER Damien, your humble guide

The Dom Loisirs and Culture team is committed to raising awareness of the protection of the biodiversity of the overseas departments.