Rhum Barbancourt
Encyclopedia
Barbancourt is a well-known rum
produced and bottled by Société du Rhum Barbancourt, T. Gardère & Cie. in Haiti
. The company is one of Haiti's oldest and its rum is the country's most famous export, widely regarded as among the finest rums in the world.
began in 1862 producing rum directly from sugar cane juice. Dupré Barbancourt, a Frenchman
from the cognac-producing region of Charente
emigrated to Haiti, and founded his company at the end of 1862. After learning how to make rum in December of that year, he soon began selling it for HTG
1.50 (US$
0.30) per gallon.
Dupré Barbancourt left no heir and when he died the company passed to his wife Nathalie Gardère, who managed it with the help of her nephew, Paul Gardère. When she died, Paul then directed the company’s destiny until his death in 1946, when his son Jean Gardère took up the baton, furthering the family tradition until 1990. When Jean passed, Thierry Gardère took over, becoming the fourth generation of the Gardère family to lead the company.
During the 2010 Haiti earthquake
two workers died, about 86 lost their houses, many aging barrels were destroyed halting the rum production and rum supply and prices were affected. By May 2010 however, production had already resumed.
Barbancourt is made directly from sugar cane juice rather than the sugar cane by-product molasses
. This is similar to the rhums agricole of Martinique
, which are strictly controlled by law. Fermenting fresh sugar cane juice provides a more flavorful product. Cachaça
, from Brazil
, is another alcoholic beverage made from fresh sugar cane juice.
Barbancourt's products are highly regarded and have won many tastings and competitions, and have won excellent reviews from rum connoisseurs. Available in the United States
, its Estate Réserve is aged for 15 years. Within the Caribbean
region, the original Réserve du Domaine is also aged 15 years, and each bottle previously had a unique serial number—however the labels have changed recently and this is no longer the case. Other popular products include the 5 Star Réserve Spéciale aged for eight years, the 3 Star rhum aged four years and a clear, white rhum, all made from fresh sugar cane juice.
Barbancourt's rums are marketed in 20 countries, namely the Caribbean, the United States, France
, and Italy
. Barbancourt is among Haiti's best known companies internationally.
Barbancourt_logo_2.jpg
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
produced and bottled by Société du Rhum Barbancourt, T. Gardère & Cie. in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. The company is one of Haiti's oldest and its rum is the country's most famous export, widely regarded as among the finest rums in the world.
Company history
The family businessFamily business
A family business is a business in which one or more members of one or more families have a significant ownership interest and significant commitments toward the business’ overall well-being....
began in 1862 producing rum directly from sugar cane juice. Dupré Barbancourt, a Frenchman
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from the cognac-producing region of Charente
Charente
Charente is a department in southwestern France, in the Poitou-Charentes region, named after the Charente River, the most important river in the department, and also the river beside which the department's two largest towns, Angoulême and Cognac, are sited.-History:Charente is one of the original...
emigrated to Haiti, and founded his company at the end of 1862. After learning how to make rum in December of that year, he soon began selling it for HTG
Haitian gourde
- Banknotes :In 1875, banknotes were issued by the "National Bank of Haiti" in denominations of 25 centimes, 1 and 5 piastres . Following this, banknotes were issued in denominations ranging from 10 centimes to 5 gourdes by the various Haitian governments until 1916, when the "National Bank of the...
1.50 (US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
0.30) per gallon.
Dupré Barbancourt left no heir and when he died the company passed to his wife Nathalie Gardère, who managed it with the help of her nephew, Paul Gardère. When she died, Paul then directed the company’s destiny until his death in 1946, when his son Jean Gardère took up the baton, furthering the family tradition until 1990. When Jean passed, Thierry Gardère took over, becoming the fourth generation of the Gardère family to lead the company.
During the 2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
two workers died, about 86 lost their houses, many aging barrels were destroyed halting the rum production and rum supply and prices were affected. By May 2010 however, production had already resumed.
Expansion and operations
In 1949, the company relocated at the heart of the sugar cane fields of the Domaine Barbancourt in the plaine du Cul-de-Sac region. By 1952, the successful company ramped up production, transforming itself from what once was a cottage industry into a major producer of quality rum. The rum is double distilled, using a process similar to that used to produce cognac.Barbancourt is made directly from sugar cane juice rather than the sugar cane by-product molasses
Molasses
Molasses is a viscous by-product of the processing of sugar cane, grapes or sugar beets into sugar. The word molasses comes from the Portuguese word melaço, which ultimately comes from mel, the Latin word for "honey". The quality of molasses depends on the maturity of the sugar cane or sugar beet,...
. This is similar to the rhums agricole of Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, which are strictly controlled by law. Fermenting fresh sugar cane juice provides a more flavorful product. Cachaça
Cachaça
Cachaça is a liquor made from fermented sugarcane.It is the most popular distilled alcoholic beverage in Brazil. It is also known as aguardente, pinga, caninha and many other names...
, from Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, is another alcoholic beverage made from fresh sugar cane juice.
Barbancourt's products are highly regarded and have won many tastings and competitions, and have won excellent reviews from rum connoisseurs. Available in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, its Estate Réserve is aged for 15 years. Within the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
region, the original Réserve du Domaine is also aged 15 years, and each bottle previously had a unique serial number—however the labels have changed recently and this is no longer the case. Other popular products include the 5 Star Réserve Spéciale aged for eight years, the 3 Star rhum aged four years and a clear, white rhum, all made from fresh sugar cane juice.
Barbancourt's rums are marketed in 20 countries, namely the Caribbean, the United States, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Barbancourt is among Haiti's best known companies internationally.
Products
- Rhum Barbancourt White
- Rhum Barbancourt 3-Star (aged 4 years)
- Rhum Barbancourt 5-Star (aged 8 years)
- Rhum Barbancourt Estate Reserve (aged 15 years)
- Pango Rhum (fruit flavored rum)
External links
- Barbancourt official site
- Blog Post at Haiti Innovation
- Haiti Solar Energy
- Robert Burr's Gifted Rums Guide
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