The birth of JM rums begins in the heart of lush vegetation where one of the most beautiful distilleries in Martinique stands, located at the Fonds-Préville estate in Macouba. The first distillations date back to 1845, initiated by Jean-Marie Martin, who signed his blends with his initials "JM," thus marking the beginning of a legend in Caribbean agricultural rums. In the 1910s, the distillery was taken over by Ernest Crassous de Médeuil and his brother Gustave, then manager and owner of the Bellevue estate. After several technical and structural improvements, these two estates merged to become the current Habitation Fonds-Préville. Today, the Bernard Hayot Group is the majority shareholder of SCA Héritiers Crassous de Médeuil, thus guaranteeing the continuity and excellence of this emblematic house.
The sugar canes used come exclusively from the Fonds-Préville agricultural domain, covering 225 hectares on the fertile slopes of Montagne Pelée. This unique terroir provides exceptional quality to the raw material. The fermented juices are carefully distilled in two traditional Creole copper columns, with an alcohol content not exceeding 72°, in order to preserve the aromatic authenticity and natural richness of the sugar canes. The distillery benefits from a supply of pure spring water sourced directly from Montagne Pelée, contributing to the finesse and freshness characteristic of JM rums.