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Le Galion
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Le Galion is a rum distillery in Martinique that is part of the last remaining sugar factory on the island and was opened in 1865. It was built by Eugène Eustache in the years prior, having acquired the Galion and Grands-Fonds estates in the 1950s and merging them through neighbouring land acquisitions over the following decade. Today it is owned by the Martinique government through a company called SAEM PRSM, with minority shareholders including COFEPP (owners of Saint James and Depaz) and Holmex (owner of Simon).
Located between Le Robert and La Trinité on the Atlantic coast of Martinique, the distillery is unique in that it is also the only rum producer on the island still using molasses as its base, producing white brown and grand arôme rums which have their own protected geographical indication.
The Le Galion brand name is used by SAEM PRSM to market both its sugar products and its rum and the latter has been available since the 1980s. Earlier distillery bottlings marked as being produced by Grands-Fonds Galion do exist however.
The Le Galion rum portfolio is divided into two offerings, the classic Le Grand Arôme and a white and brown rum which are both bottled under the name Grand Fond Galion in homage to the company's heritage.
1984-present
1862-1981
Usine Sucrière SAEM du Galion
La Trinité 97220
Martinique
1849
1863
1865
1892
1925
1979
1981
Eugène Eustache arrives from Belgium and acquires Le Galion plantation.
Exploitation Agricole du Galion is established.
Eustache builds a modern steam factory at Le Galion with assistance from son-in-law, Émile Bougenot.
A distillery operation is first opened within the Le Galion factory.
Émile Bougenot departs Martinique. His family continue to own Exploitation Agricole du Galion with local management running the factory.
Émile Bougenot dies.
Sugarcane yield has declined by 59% since 1960, prompting Le Galion to invest heavily in modernisation.
The Le Galion factory and distillery are sold to the Martinque government-funded SAEM. Exploitation Agricole du Galion retains the sugarcane fields.
Active brands
Traditional Rum