La Réunion

It was only at the beginning of the 19th century that rum really took off in La Réunion. Previously, sugar cane was used almost exclusively to for export in continental France and Indochina and there were no less than 40 rum distilleries in 1850. After that, wars, diseases, cyclones and the poor quality of the rum produced there (comparatively to the French West Indies) prevented the island to shine internationaly. Today there are only 2 sugar mills and 4 distilleries (Isautier, Rivière du Mât, Savanna and La Part des Anges) which produce both rums from pure sugar cane juice and molasses. It should be noted that La Réunion has built a solid reputation in recent years for its "Rhums Arrangés".