Saint James
Saint James: Iconic Martinique rum, single‑estate AOC agricole with bold, oak-driven elegance
Founded in 1765 at the foot of Mount Pelée and now based in Sainte‑Marie, this landmark distillery helped define AOC Martinique agricole. As a true single‑estate operation, cane is cut and crushed quickly, fermented, and distilled on traditional Creole columns to capture vivid terroir in every drop.
On RumX, 240 expressions of Saint James rum have attracted 4,043 community reviews with a strong 8.1/10 median. Fans praise the house’s dry, oak‑forward elegance and layered complexity—from VSOP and XO to Brut de Fût and Les Éphémères limited editions. Explore a benchmark of Martinique rum. Expect structure, red‑fruit brightness and long, spice‑laced finishes.
Popular rums from Saint James
Excellence Rhum Saint James Brut de Fût (Excellence Rhum’s 10th Anniversary) 2006
2006 15yr 53,1%
elegant, woody-spicy agricole with minty finish
Saint James Habitation La Salle Cuvée La Salle XO
10yr 43%
Classic agricole rum: woody, smooth, well-balanced.
Top rated rums from Saint James
Saint James J. Bally Millésime 1999 LMDW 1999
1999 18yr 54,5%
Dark, complex, beautifully integrated cask strength
Velier Saint James Velier 70th Anniversary 2008
2008 9yr 60,8%
Complex, chocolatey, woody agricole
Excellence Rhum Saint James Brut de Fût (Excellence Rhum’s 10th Anniversary) 2006
2006 15yr 53,1%
elegant, woody-spicy agricole with minty finish
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2000
2000 21yr 47%
Balanced coffee-caramel agricole with chocolate
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2004
2004 17yr 47%
Herbal-woody agricole with dry finish
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2015
2015 6yr 47%
Fresh floral agricole, citrus-woody charm
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2014
2014 7yr 47%
dry agricole with vanilla and citrus
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2008
2008 13yr 47%
Roasted wood and dried fruit, balanced finish
Velier Saint James Sélection exclusive Velier 2012
2012 9yr 47%
Woody, floral agricole with dry, smoky edge
Flavour profile of Saint James
Most frequently mentioned flavors
RumX tasters value the distillery for its concentrated, oak‑driven agricole style: aromas of red fruits, cocoa, leather, tobacco and menthol unfold with air. Palates are typically dry, spicy and structured, with balanced power in Brut de Fût and elegant depth in Les Éphémères. Many recommend patience—or a few drops of water—to reveal fruit and honeyed notes. A minority finds some bottlings too bitter or sour, but complexity remains the hallmark.
Frequently Asked Questions about Saint James
Popular independent bottlers of Saint James
- Velier 16 rums
- Hardy 15 rums
- Héritiers Madkaud 9 rums
- V&B 3 rums
- LMDW 2 rums
- Les Rhums du Sud 2 rums
- La Confrérie du Rhum 1 rum
- Excellence Rhum 1 rum
About the Saint James distillery
The Saint James distillery is located in Martinique. Rums from Saint James have been reviewed 4,128 times with an average of 8.1/10.
All rums from Saint James
- Saint James Les Ephémères - N°1 2001 20yr 55,2% RX12796
- Saint James Les Éphémères - N°6 2006 16yr 54,4% RX15601
- Saint James Les Ephémères - N°7 2007 15yr 54,3% RX13392
- Saint James Les Éphémères - N°5 2005 16yr 51,8% RX17197
- Saint James J. Bally Art Déco #2 22yr 43,5% RX10626
- Saint James Brut de fût 2003 14yr 56,4% RX7259
- Saint James VSOP 4yr 43% RX7167
- La Confrérie du Rhum Saint James Brut de fût 2003 14yr 59% RX184
Want to find out more?
Are you fascinated by the unique flavors of Saint James rums? Discover more about Saint James and other exciting distilleries with detailed tasting notes, expert reviews, and a vibrant community in the free RumX app.
