Distillation

Three stainless-steel columns from the French still maker Savalle stand at Bielle, and the brand's rum flows from them. Savalle is a French manufacturer of distilling equipment. A column, also called a still, runs continuously: the fermented juice enters at the top, is heated with steam at the bottom, and the alcohol rises through several plates toward the top.

For Père Labat, a copper creole column is cited. It has fewer plates than a high-performance column and therefore leaves more aroma in the distillate. The French call it colonne créole.

Guadeloupe's regulations allow for more than just columns. Pot stills with a column attachment are also permitted, provided the kettle holds no more than 30 hectoliters. For Marie-Galante, both paths therefore remain open.

Strength defines the island's style. Bielle speaks of the historic proof of 59 percent, at which its Blanc is bottled. Père Labat and Bellevue also offer a Blanc at 59%, Bellevue additionally one at 50%, and Père Labat has an organic version at 52%. At this strength, the rum tends to taste sharp quickly, which is why many tasters add a drop of water.

Regarding the brands: alongside its Blanc, Bielle releases an organic bottling at 59% as well as aged rums. Père Labat is the brand of the Poisson distillery and bears the name of the Dominican monk Jean-Baptiste Labat (1663–1738), credited with improving distilling equipment in the French Antilles. Bellevue promotes its Blanc, aged rums, and fruit punch, and states it operates using solar power.