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Homère Clément became the owner of the Acajou Estate, which he bought at auction. He moved into the main house with his family and became a sugar cane planter.

As the war caused an increase in the demand for alcohol, Homère Clément undertook the construction of a distillery on the land of the Acajou Estate, on the site of the former sugar refinery.

After the death of Homère Clément, his son Charles succeeded him and devoted himself to developing the distillery. A talented engineer and businessman, he modernized the production facilities, founded a distillers’ union, and promoted Martinique through its rums.

After marketing its rums under the name “Acajou” in the 1930s, Charles Clément gave his name to his already well-known rum. Brand strategy, the use of emerging advertising, and expansion to international markets made Clément a major name in rum.

The first ageing cellar built in 1946 was completed over time by five others, bearing the names of members of the Clément family. Home to more than 12,000 ageing barrels, Rhum Clément is now the leading producer of aged rum in Martinique.

After the death of Charles Clément, his sons worked to develop the company: Georges-Louis ran the distillery in Martinique, while Jean-José, based in Bordeaux, marketed the rums in France and developed export markets.

After three generations of the Clément family, the family story continues with Yves and Bernard Hayot, who took over the company. They gave it the name L’Habitation Clément, in honor of the family that owned it for a century, and continued the international development of the brand.

The rich history and beauty of the estate make the Clément Habitation a key destination for rum and Martinican heritage. In 1988, it opened its doors to the public, showcasing its heritage and further contributing to the prestige of Martinique rum.

Hosting the Franco-American summit between François Mitterrand and George Bush on 14 March 1991, at the end of the Gulf War, the Clément Habitation was in the global spotlight for a single day.

Created on the industrial wasteland of the former distillery, this new park houses a collection of plants from different tropical regions of the world and received the “Remarkable Garden” label in 2015.

The recognition of the heritage value of the Clément Habitation was manifested by the registration of the house as a historical monument, followed by a classification in 1996. The same year, Martinique’s agricultural rum became a Controlled Designation of Origin (AOC).

A centuries-old drink, rum was revitalised with the creation of The Blue Cane: a vintage, single-variety white rum that required months of testing and tasting. Since then, each year, a new vintage has been created, containing new aromas in a new presentation.