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Papa Rouyo, a terroir-driven agricole rum distillery in Guadeloupe
Time to pass down, to grow, to harvest, to distil and to age.
In Goyave, Basse-Terre, a micro-distillery born of a community of master cane growers.
- Where Goyave, Basse-Terre
- Experience Guided tour and tasting
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Reviews
4.8/5
- Booking Online, instant confirmation
4.8/5
Tasting Papa Rouyo means reaching into the past to better savour the present
Founded in 2021 in Goyave, the Papa Rouyo distillery makes terroir-driven agricole rum from freshly harvested pure cane juice. It pays tribute to Charles Albert Ruscade, known as Papa Rouyo, a master cane grower in Le Moule for close to sixty years.
Our sugarcane is grown by hand on the Plateaux de l'Est, on identified and traced plots. Every cuvée comes from a single grower, a single field, a single variety - a single-plot approach that is rare in Guadeloupean agricole rum.
In Goyave, the fermented juice is double distilled in two pot stills, a method almost no other distillery in the archipelago uses. The result is a signature rum, where you taste the plot before the brand.
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Founded
2021, the tenth distillery in Guadeloupe -
Sugarcane
16 hectares in Le Moule, Grande-Terre
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Varieties
Yellow cane, red cane, matos cane
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Distillation
Double distillation in pot stills
Papa Rouyo opens its doors
From the cane field to ageing in barrels, the tour follows the whole journey of the rum and ends with a guided tasting. An alcohol-free version is available for children.
See all tours
Three gestures make Papa Rouyo rum
Clay-limestone soils on the Plateaux de l'Est, Atlantic sea spray, sixteen hectares in Le Moule. Every cuvée comes from a single field and a single cane variety.
Long cut by hand, immediate crushing after harvest, traceability claimed from cane to bottle. The growers sign the rum as much as the distillery does.
Wash still then spirit still, twenty-four hours per complete distillation, tight cuts to keep only the heart. A method rarely used in Guadeloupe.
Where to buy our rums
The shop is on the distillery site in Goyave. Our cuvées are also available from our distributors across the Caribbean and Europe.
- Mainland France
- Germany
- Guadeloupe
- Northern Islands
- Martinique
- Benelux
- Italy
- Andorra
Follow the adventure, season after season
Harvests, new cuvées, life in the cellar and events at the distillery. A letter for lovers of terroir-driven agricole rum.
Subscribe to the newsletterGetting to the distillery
The distillery sits in Sainte-Claire, in the town of Goyave, halfway between Basse-Terre and Pointe-à-Pitre, at the foot of the Soufrière foothills.
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Address
Rue de l'Habitation, Route de Sainte-Claire
97128 Goyave, Guadeloupe - Opening hours Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pmClosed Saturday and Sunday
- Phone +590 590 987 469
- Email hello@paparouyo.com
- On site Shop, parkingWheelchair access
Before you book
Frequently asked questions
A question that is not answered here? Write to us, we reply quickly.
hello@paparouyo.comDo I need to book in advance?
Yes. All our experiences are booked online, including the entry-level tour. Places are limited and some sessions only run once a week, so it is best to book a few days ahead, especially in high season.
What days and times can I visit?
The distillery is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, and closed on Saturday and Sunday. Tours depart Tuesday to Friday, between 10am and 3.30pm depending on the experience. The booking calendar shows the slots actually available.
How long does the tour last?
Allow 45 minutes for the Craft Immersion, one hour for the Sensory Workshop and the English-language tour, 1 hr 15 for the Private Discovery and one and a half hours for the Cocktail Creation and Food & Rum Pairing workshops. The tasting is included in that time.
How much does a tour cost?
Prices range from €19 per person for the Craft Immersion to €55 for the Food & Rum Pairing workshop. Online booking fees are added at checkout.
Is the distillery wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the site is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. Let us know when you book so we can adapt the route and the seating for the tasting.
Can I come with children?
Yes on the tour formats: an alcohol-free tasting is provided for them. The Cocktail Creation and Food & Rum Pairing workshops, along with the Adults-only tour, are reserved for guests aged 18 and over.
Is there a tour in English?
Yes. The Sensory Workshop & Tour runs entirely in English and covers both the Papa Rouyo distillery and the Lékouz brewery, tasting included.
Can we come as a group or book a private tour?
Yes. Group size ranges from 6 to 40 people depending on the experience. The Private Discovery lets you book the site for your group alone, with a private immersion and a sensory introduction.
Is there parking and a shop on site?
Yes, parking is available on site, and the shop lets you take home the cuvées you have tasted.
Can I give a tour as a gift?
Yes, the gift card is valid on every experience. The recipient then chooses their format and their date.
Can I cancel or change my booking?
Yes, free of charge up to 24 hours before the scheduled date. Cancellation must be made online through our booking platform: requests by telephone cannot be processed. Within that window the refund is automatic and complete. After 24 hours, no refund can be granted.