Independent bottler
Clairin
Clairin is a project/brand that promotes and bottles traditional Haitian spirits known as clairin: handcrafted distillates made from pure cane juice, produced by small local makers and brought to international markets through collaboration with La Maison & Velier and The Spirit of Haiti.
- Haiti
The story
The project to valorize traditional clairins began around 2012 as an initiative by operators in the rum world (including Velier and later La Maison & Velier) to select, bottle and distribute spirits produced by small Haitian 'guildives'. Early international releases included labels signed Casimir, Sajous and Vaval, later joined by Le Rocher and Sonson and the blended 'Communal' release.
Production philosophy
Highlight local artisanal productions, preserve the territorial characters (terroir) of individual Haitian producers, present clairin in its most authentic form (often at cask strength, without additions) and provide an international market channel for traditional producers.
Territory
Haiti: productions coming from various communities and villages including Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye (Sajous), Cavaillon (Vaval), Barradères (Casimir), Pignon (Le Rocher) and Cabaret/Arcahaie (Sonson).
Production method
The clairins marketed under the Clairin brand are obtained from cane juice (pure juice), using natural or spontaneous fermentations typical of local productions and distillations in small traditional stills; many bottles are offered unaged (white/clairin) while there are also selections subsequently aged or matured.
Distillation
Traditional distillation in small discontinuous stills (pot still) typical of local micro-productions; natural/spontaneous fermentation of the cane juice.
Ageing
Mainly unaged (white clairin); however there are series and single batches aged or matured (series 'Ansyen' / 'Vieux') in casks by the bottlers/project Spirit of Haiti.
Characteristics
- Type
- Independent bottler
- Categories
- clairin (traditional Haitian rum)
- agricultural rum
- artisanal rum
- independent bottler
- Raw materials
- cane juice (pure cane juice)
- Casks and ageing vessels
- ex-Caroni
- whisky casks
- sherry cask (Oloroso)
- Representative products
- Rhum Clairin Casimir 2018 70cl - Giftbox
- Rhum Clairin Communal 70cl
- Rhum Clairin Le Rocher 7 Recolte 2019 70cl - Giftbox
- Rhum Clairin Sajous 9 Recolte 2021 70cl - Giftbox
- Rhum Clairin Sonson 6 Recolte' 2018 70cl - Giftbox
- Rhum Clairin Vaval 10 Recolte 70cl - Giftbox
- Rhum Sajous 4Y Lustau Oloroso Sherry Cask 70cl
- Rum Casimir 9 Récolte 2021 70cl - Clairin
- Rum Le Rocher 10 Récolte 2022 70cl - Clairin
- Rum Sonson 10 Récolte 2023 70cl - Clairin
- Rum Vieux Sajous 5yo 70cl - Clairin
What makes it distinctive
- Valorization of small Haitian artisanal producers (guildives).
- Strong territorial expression: individual clairins identified by village/producer (Sajous, Casimir, Vaval, Le Rocher, Sonson).
- Both unaged and aged/matured bottlings in selected casks.
- International project promoted by Velier / La Maison & Velier through the The Spirit of Haiti brand.
Products from Clairin
Full collectionThere are currently no products available from this producer.
