The story behind Dzama
Dzama began in 1980 on Nosy Be, the island off Madagascar's northwest coast, when Lucien Fohine and his wife set up near the village of Dzamandzar. The name is simply that village shortened. Production moved to Antananarivo in 1984 as transport costs climbed, and Groupe Vidzar, short for Vieux Rhum de Dzamandzar, now runs under their son Franck Fohine.
The sugarcane grows in volcanic soil beside ylang-ylang, vanilla, clove and citrus, and you can taste that neighborhood in the glass. Fohine came out of Scotch whisky bottling, which is why the aged expressions rest in ex-bourbon and sherry casks from Chivas Brothers, plus French Limousin oak for the older stock. Column stills, no artificial additives, and a five stage water filtration. Dzama holds roughly 60 percent of all spirits sold in Madagascar.
Explore the Dzama range
Three Dzama bottles sit on our shelf right now, from a white rum to a dark prestige blend, each one carrying that Madagascar vanilla and spice signature.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dzama Blanche 750mL | White rum, aged 3 weeks | 80 proof | Citrus-washed barrels, clean cane, soft vanilla lift |
| Dzama Cuvee Noire 750mL | Dark blended rum, aged 2 years | 80 proof | Cocoa, dried fruit, warm clove and vanilla |
| Dzama Noir Prestige 750mL | Premium dark blended rum | 80 proof | Deeper oak, sherry sweetness, long vanilla finish |
| Dzama Rhum Vieux Aged 3 Years | Aged rum, ex-bourbon and sherry | 86 to 104 proof | Bourbon cask spice, sherry roundness, cane backbone |
| Dzama Prestige Madagascar | High-proof dark rum | 104 proof | Concentrated dark fruit, oak, heat that holds |
| Dzama Vanilla Ambre de Madagascar | Infused aged rum, real pod | 80 proof | Whole vanilla pod in bottle, rich amber sweetness |
Which Dzama is right for you?
Pricing at our Commack counter starts at $20.99 for the Dzama Blanche, a white rum we sell out of regularly, and $21.97 for the Cuvee Noire. The Noir Prestige 750mL runs $41.99 and is the bottle we hand people first when they want to know what the house style tastes like. Anything above that tier, including the high-proof Prestige Madagascar and the Vanilla Ambre, we bring in on request, so call the store and we will tell you what is landing and when.
Clean cane and citrus make it a natural daiquiri base without whisky harshness.
Sherry cask depth and vanilla for someone who drinks rum neat after dinner.
A story bottle from Madagascar at a price that does not scare guests.