Rhum Bologne Black Cane

The Bologne family introduced sugar cane farming to Guadeloupe (1654) and later established the island's first distillery (1887). In the mid-18th century, the plantation was managed by Georges de Bologne. A sixteen-year-old enslaved Senegalese woman bore him a son named Joseph, a versatile and remarkable figure, as history shows. We'll resume with him shortly.

Modern cinema is evolving, with the concept of inclusivity proving to be particularly contentious. Intense antagonism is based on ideological beliefs, which are instrumentalized by politicians. Widespread intolerance of differing perspectives devastates public discourse. And so, conservatives all of a sudden advocate for unrestricted artistic freedom in order to avoid the accusation of sexism, racism, or homophobia from the left.

Conservatives believe in capitalism and must know that there are market mechanisms at play, meaning individual consumer choices accumulate and, consequently, shape producers' decisions. Hence, let everyone choose an offer based on personal needs or preferences, allowing the market to regulate itself. How? In line with the preferences of the (paying) majority. Good news though - if you unfortunately find yourself excluded, you can always advocate for inclusivity. 🙃

Returning to Joseph Bologne, perhaps better known as Chevalier de Saint-George. The self-made man of the Enlightenment era conquered the French court; excelling as virtuoso and composer, unmatched fencer and coveted socialite, ultimately becoming a revolutionary. The final, rebellious episode of his life (and arguably the most authentic) led to social ostracism. Joseph's life journey, the eminent Mulatto on the royal court on the brink of the French Revolution, is truly exciting and possesses immense potential for a flagship movie production.

The film was indeed made (2022) and its definite advantage was to avoid controversies surrounding the casting of the lead role. Without revealing too much, the plot suffers due to the imbalance between fiction and historical accuracy and raises doubts about the sincerity of the creators' intentions. Disregarding political correctness or feigned progressiveness, the problem lies in manipulating events, which extends beyond creative freedom and in doing so undermines the credibility of the narrative as a whole.

Sugarcane accounts for one-third of Guadeloupe's agricultural cultivation, from which one-tenth of the yield is dedicated to rum production. The designation 'Rhum de Guadeloupe' has been subject to certification and protection since 2015. All production stages must be completed on the island, although bottling is allowed on mainland France.

Situated in the Basse-Terre region, the Bologne distillery processes raw materials sourced from its own plantations surrounding the Soufriere stratovolcano, where the soil consists predominantly of clay (95%). The harvest is conducted during the dry season, with distillation promptly following the pressing of sugarcane juice, which occurs immediately after cutting. Fermentation lasts up to 48 hours, using a proprietary yeast strain. The distillery takes great pride in using the 'canne noire' variety - a low-yield sugarcane known for its exceptional aromatic profile. ‘Black cane’ limited editions, crafted exclusively from this variety, have been available since 2014.

The rum is distilled in a Savalle copper column from which it emerges at 70% strength. White rums mature for a minimum of three weeks in vats and are diluted to a 50% abv before bottling. Rhum from Guadeloupe must contain at least 225 g/hlAA of volatile substances other than ethyl and methyl alcohol.