The Rhumerie de Chamarel is one of Mauritius's most acclaimed rum producers, making small-batch agricole rum on a hillside in the Black River district. Guided tours walk you through the production process — from the crushing of local sugar cane to fermentation, distillation in copper pot stills, and ageing in French oak barrels. The views from the distillery over the surrounding cane fields and down toward the coast are excellent.
The tour ends with a tasting of several expressions: white rum fresh off the still, aged rums at different stages, and flavoured varieties infused with vanilla, ginger, and other island spices. The rum here has won international awards and the production is genuinely artisanal — worth taking seriously even if you are not normally a rum drinker. Booking tours in advance is recommended, especially in the November–April high season.