The rums of Dzama are sourced from sugar cane planted in three geographical areas: Nosy Be island off the northern Coast of Madagascar; and two other areas in the northwest and northeast of the mainland. Each one of these locations is chosen for its particular terroir. Nosy Be is surrounded by vanilla and ylang-ylang plantations, the second area by citrus fruit cultivation, while the third has a concentration of clove plantings.

Like the oh-so-French Caribbean island of Martinique, Madagascar’s terroir and agriculture affect the aromas and flavors of it’s rhums.  Sugar cane grown in the different regions are affected by the surrounding fruit, aromatic plants, and spices. Adding complexity to Dzama’s products is the fact that their various molasses-based washes are with different yeasts, each designed to detach or highlight, the specific  terroir-produced character of each rum separately. Finally,  Dzama distills their spirits to different levels of alcoho, adding yet another tool in their bag of tricks used to achieve the desired flavors.  Aging is performed in different types of oak casks.  Some are used whiskey casks sourced from Chivas, others are new French Limousin oak.

Dzama representatives insist that no artificial products, additives or enhancers are used in the making of their rhum - an assertion that’s nearly incredible given their overwhelming flavors.  The explanation given to me was: The Volcanic soil of Nosy Be adds minerality and depth, and The plantations of Ylang-Ylang, a vine used in the manufacture of perfumes, or plantings of Clove trees, Vanilla, Oranges, Lemons, etc. are believed to transmit their essential oils to the sugarcane while it is growing, both through airborne means but more likely from the intermingling between the roots of  sugarcane and the roots of old roots from plants that were previously grown in the cane fields.  Hmm, makes me want to visit Madagascar to do some field research!
Dzama Tasting

Finally, Dzama points to several processes used to ensure quality:  Cleanliness - Entering the bottling plant requires you to don a cap, white coat, and face mask. Even the walls are painted twice a year to impede the growth of mold, which result’s naturally from ethanol released into the surrounding atmosphere.
Water - for diluting Dzama rhums is filtered through a five-step process, involving; Sand to remove solids, Carbon to remove odors, Cation (electrical method) to remove unwanted chemi