Welcome to the island of Marie Galante, located in the south of Guadeloupe and made up of the municipalities of Grand Bourg, Saint-Louis and Capesterre-de-Marie-Galante. It is in area (158 km2), the largest of the three islands that surround Guadeloupe (La Desirade and Les Saintes). This islands reachable by maritime transport and by an aerodrome, has kept all its charm of yesteryear. The pace of life is peaceful there, the environment and the landscapes have been preserved there with the “hundred mills” and the ponds which once served as a water point for consumption and everyday activities. In terms of activities, this island is quite diversified with its hikes, magnificent white sand beaches and these dwellings which are the only ones to titrate a rum at 59 degrees in Guadeloupe. You will necessarily find your happiness between nautical, pedestrian and cultural activities. In terms of services, the island is home to craftsmen with shops, restaurants with magnificent settings and diverse atmospheres. You will find banks, post offices, gas stations in each municipality. The island is quite large, so it is best to rent a car when you arrive in the town of Grand Bourg.

The island has many treasures to discover such as its three distilleries and their stories.

La Distillerie Bellevue (website link), free visit and tasting every day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (except December 25 and January 1)

La Distillerie Bielle (website link), free visit and tasting every day from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. except Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. (high season).

La Distillerie Poisson (Père Labat) (website link), visit and free tasting from Monday to Saturday from 7am to 1pm.

Habitations Bellevue is a distillery located in the town of Capesterre-de-Marie-Galante.

The Habitation Poisson (Père Labat) and the Habitation Bielle are located in the town of Grand Bourg.

Access by boat

o access the island of Marie-Galante, you have two main accesses from Guadeloupe by sea transport. From the Bergevin maritime guard located in Pointe-à-Pitre and the Saint-François maritime station, you will have a 45 min to 1 hour crossing.

We left from Pointe-à-Pitre. For timetables and reservations, check the website of the company “Express des îles”. Other companies exist but we were satisfied with this one. The crossing can be hectic on the way out, plan for seasickness if no one is already prone to this case.

When you arrive in Grand-Bourg, it is best to rent a car because the island is large. (Plan ahead). Many local or more familiar companies (Hertz) exist on the island.

To access the Poisson distillery, from Grand Bourg, head towards the town of Saint-Louis by the coastal road (D206) and pay attention to the signs. You will have to turn right at the roundabout (D201) then left a few minutes later to enter the site of the Habitation du rhum Père Labat.

To access the other two distilleries, starting from Grand Bourg, join the N9, towards the town of Capesterre-de-Marie-Galante. Pay attention to the signs to direct you first to Distilleries Bielle and then to Distillerie Bellevue, taking the D202 road (on your left).

Itinerary

L’Habitation Poisson (Père Labat) 

The distillery is located in the town of Grand Bourg.

Free visit and tasting from Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Take the driveway and park before the distillery shop. Normally, you will have no difficulty parking.

The visit is free on the estate and you can walk around to take pictures.

You can also enter the rum distillery to discover the sugar boilers (on your left) which were used to transform cane juice into sugar. On your right, more recent vats which are used for the fermentation of vesou (freshly squeezed cane juice).

A little history…….

In the 18th century, Catherine POISSON bought this estate and decided to turn it into a sugar refinery in 1863.

In 1916, Edouard RAMEAU bought the property and transformed it into a distillery. He modernized the distillery with a steam engine and a copper still in order to produce a rum known as “Père Labat”.

He gave the name to this rum in homage to Jean-Baptiste LABAT, a French missionary who settled on the island at the end of the 17th century. This man contributed to the development of the cultivation of sugar cane and to the modernization of the techniques for making eau-de-vie.

Since then, this distillery has kept all its natural heritage, without distorting the rum industry, as you have seen with the sugar boilers which are still in their solid masonry.

Continue your visit, heading towards the cellars at the back of the property. You will be able to meet one of the craftsmen of the manufacture of this rum who will explain to you the processes of the manufacture of white rum with old rum.

Head to the boutique to finalize the visit to the estate and have a tasting. The Distillerie Poisson produces several varieties of rum, white, golden, amber and old rum. You will also find the Père Labat mint liqueur, made from rum and mint and to be drunk very cold.

Do not hesitate to browse their website to find out about Distillerie Poisson news.

Do not hesitate to post your comments or ask us for information on contact@domloisirsetculture.fr.

Subscribe to our Facebook page, every week a new article or a new video

Dom Loisirs et Culture team to serve you.

OLIVIER Damien, your humble guide.

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