AOC Martinique Distillation

15 plates + 5-9 plates for concentration at the top of the still,
diameter must be between 0.7 and 2 meters

Savalle still at Neisson, installed in 1932.

Distillation Columns at La Favorite.

Notice the height of these columns. The column on the left is stainless steel with copper plates inside.
The column on the left is all copper. La Favorite produces distillate for other distilleries in the column on the left.

The stills for Duquesne, on the right and Trois Rivieres on the left, have been located at La Mauny since 2005.

Trois Rivieres and Duquesne stills.

Two columns at J.M

Distillation Columns at J.M.

Saint James Stills

Distillation Columns at Saint James.

Stills at DePaz

Copper and Stainless Steel Still at DePaz

Distillate must be less than 75% ABV

Sight glass at Neisson.

Column distillation is a continuous process.

Distillation production is limited only by the size of the still and the volume of fermented juice ready to distill.

Fermented juice, wine, is introduced at the top of the still and falls through a maze of plates while steam, introduced at the bottom of the still strips the alcohol from the fermented juice as it rises to the top of the still. This alcohol-rich vapor is then ducted to a condenser from which it emerges as a liquid called 'rum.'

The heart of the spirit is removed at plate #5 in a column still. The lightest alcohols, called 'heads' are removed from the higher plates and then redistilled.

15 plates + 5-9 plates for concentration at the top of the still, diameter must be between 0.7 and 2 meters