Bielle, the excellence of Marie-Galante

4 April 2026 | Interviews & Meetings
Bielle, the excellence of Marie-Galante

Interview with Philippine Thiery, General Manager of the Bielle Distillery

Can you tell us the story of your distillery and what sets it apart in the world of rum?

Founded in 1826 on the site of a former sugar factory, the Bielle Distillery has been producing rum since the early 20th century. In 1940, it produced 130 hectoliters of alcohol. A major turning point came in 1975 with the arrival of Dominique Thiery at its helm: a visionary entrepreneur, he brought new momentum to the distillery. Thanks to a committed and passionate team, Bielle gradually transformed and now produces nearly 3,000 hectoliters per year.

In 2024, I took over the reins. Trained in the world of aromas and deeply attached to this family history, I became the general manager of the island’s last independent distillery. My mission is clear: to preserve the soul of Bielle while continuing to produce an artisanal rum that is demanding and firmly focused on excellence.

How many growers do you work with to source your sugarcane?

We work with around 150 growers, essential partners in our ongoing pursuit of quality. Some of them join us in specific initiatives such as organic farming or the cultivation of single-variety sugarcanes — canne grise, baltazia, genou cassé… — which enable the creation of rums with unique aromatic profiles, true reflections of the distinctive terroir of Marie-Galante.

How many distillation devices do you have?

We have three Savalle-type columns, which allow us to carry out continuous distillation.

How do you control fermentation and distillation to achieve your distinctive aromatic profile?

Our Master Distiller oversees fermentation through regular quality checks. He is the conductor of our distillation columns, with over 30 years of experience. Maintaining impeccable hygiene is also essential to preserve the purity of the aromas.

What types of casks do you use, and why?

Our cellar master mainly selects bourbon and cognac casks, whose quality and traceability are rigorously monitored. Bourbon casks, with their vanilla and woody aromas, pair harmoniously with the fresh notes of sugarcane. Cognac casks bring a great deal of elegance.

Among Excellence Rhum’s favorites is the 2020 Cask Strength aged in old Chambord rum casks. What can you tell us about this cuvée?

This was the first aged rum cuvée in these casks. We are the first and only rum distillery in the world to have acquired casks from the Château de Chambord. The rum was aged in these barrels in the Paradis cellar at Bielle, where only our most exceptional rums mature. A second prestige cuvée will be released soon, stay tuned!

Pouvez-vous indiquer sur quels projets et ou type de projet vous travaillez en ce moment ?

Nous préparons de nouveaux rhums issus de cannes mono variétales, choisies pour leurs arômes uniques et leur capacité à révéler toute la richesse du terroir de Marie-Galante. D’autres projets, plus audacieux, sont également en cours — encore confidentiels pour l’instant — toujours guidés par notre passion et notre envie d’innover.

More generally, what is your vision of the current rum market and its evolution?

The global spirits market is in decline. In this context, we remain firmly committed to producing outstanding vintages, with rigorous quality control, thus guaranteeing our uniqueness and meeting the expectations of a more demanding market.

Moulin de broyage de canne
Moulin de broyage de canne
Bielle rum barrels
Bielle rum barrels
Scale for weighing the cane
Scale for weighing the cane
Old distillery mechanism
Old distillery mechanism

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Words collected by

Matthieu Lange
Spirits Advisor