On May 8, 1902, the Mount Pelée volcano erupted, devastating the town of Saint-Pierre and erasing it from the map. Among the lives lost was the entire family of Victor Depaz, who was studying in Bordeaux at the time. Orphaned and bankrupt, Victor initially planned to move to Canada. However, during a stopover in Martinique, he felt drawn back to Saint-Pierre and the Périnelle estate where he was born. It was there that he realized his destiny lay in rebuilding what had been lost.

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Fifteen years after the eruption, on May 8, 1917, Victor Depaz founded a new distillery on the slopes of Mount Pelée. Fueled by 521 hectares of sugarcane growing in the fertile volcanic soils, his dream became a reality. He also built a family home, a replica of the Périnelle estate of his childhood, which became known as Depaz Castle. Victor lived there from 1922 with his wife and eleven children, dedicating his life to perfecting the rhums that would carry his name.

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The quality of Depaz rums was quickly recognized, winning its first medal in Marseille in 1922, followed by a gold medal at the 1927 La Rochelle exhibition. This marked the beginning of a legacy of prestigious awards that continues to this day.

In the 1950s, Victor’s sons, André and Raoul Depaz, took over the business. They modernized sugarcane production and further developed the distillery, establishing the Depaz name as a symbol of excellence.

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Today, Depaz Rums are crafted with the same passion and care, using sun-soaked sugarcanes, rich volcanic soils, and the purest waters of Martinique. Certified as AOC Rhum Agricole of Martinique, Depaz continues to embody the spirit of resilience and tradition that Victor Depaz envisioned over a century ago.