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The Clairin Casimir is truly one of my favorite spirits in the store of any kind. Understanding why these rums (the Clairins) are so special is as easy as pouring that first glass. But appreciating the incredible story behind these wonderful rums, true products of place, makes the sensory experience all that much more impressive. To compare the Clairins to single village mezcal is appropriate and even comparing the actual products to Agave isn't a big stretch. Instead of smoke we get a deep rancio funk in the background, but the structure and attitude of the spirit is similar. The nose on the Casimir is one of the most complex of any white spirit I've ever experienced. Deep tones of savory tomato puree, black olives, salted roasted herring and dense dried herbal characters are pointed by hints of ripe tropical fruit, citrus, sweet tea and grass. On the palate, the overwhelming savory quality takes a back seat and the gorgeous fruit aromas come through. Bright citrus peel, strong ginger and cassia notes. Not nearly as dark and brooding as the nose might imply. The whole thing stays wonderfully balanced and precise with salty citrus being the prominent quality to the end.

Haiti's largest export is rhum. Barbancourt is essentially the ONLY rhum being exported from the troubled island nation. It is a testament to their commitment to quality. Made in a very similar style to the AOC rums of it's neighbors Martinique and Guadeloupe, Barbancourt 5 Star is one of my favorites. Fresh and light on its feet, you have all the intensity of a great Agricole rhum without the funky undertones. One of the best values in the store.

Clairin is so hard to pinpoint, but there's no question that these special spirits are the next level for real lovers of distilled spirits who crave complexity and depth. They fall squarely in a round hole. Or is that roundly in a square whole? The sum of the squares is great than the whole. Anyway, expect something in between Agave, Agricole and Islay. Sajous is a pretty different terroir than the other two Clairins and has a slightly different style type, but we're no less impressive. This one can use a bit of water just a tiny drop. Still tons of savory, but less black olive and more castelnuovo, fresh teatree bark, engine oil, sour dough, underbrush and endless bouquet of aromatics. The palate just explodes. It's so delineated and enjoyable I can't stop drinking it. Crushed rocks covered in lime juice. Sea water thrown on a smoldering fire. Mangos covered in Tajin. Just ridiculous. Unfair. Nothing else matters but this...

Maple, coconut and honey sweetness, even a hint of cookie dough entice nose and palate, finishing gently with warming baking spice and candied orange peel. Made from fresh sugarcane juice. *Top 100 Spirits 2020* (KN)

Produced in the town of Pignon in Haiti's Department Nord, the unusual Le Rocher Clairin is produced from sugarcane syrup that's heated to stabilize and allow for storage of the fresh juices for up to one year. The spent lees of the previous batch is introduced to encouraging consistent and intense fermentation. Distilled on a hand built pot still to proof of 46.5% alcohol by volume, Le Rocher is one of the most complex and intense of all Haiti's magnificent Clairins. The use of dunder during the process offers incredible amounts of complexity and powerful ester driven tropical fruit. Le Rocher was built by Master Distiller Bethel Romelus on a rocky out cropping. The man, who is deeply religious, quotes Matthew 7: 24-27 to explain his choice of location, "the foolish man builds the house on the sand and instead the wise man builds it on the rock".

Wow the incredible Vaval is easily the equal to the other two Clairins, but a third distinctive style. Not having the vegetal intensity of the Casimir or the clean crispness of the Sajous, it might be the most versatile of the three. The nose is the most phenolic of the three as well. Pungent and bold nose of camphor, fresh soil, sweet grass, pickles, smoked meats, but then freshness behind. On the palate less phenolic but still very meaty -diesel oil, asphalt/gravel, mineral salts and touches of roasted citrus peel. The finish is dry and distinctive with a strong zesty lime note coming through. An absolutely idiosyncratic experience and something I want people to love as much as I do. This one will be extremely fun to mix with as well.

This is a blend of the four Clairins from the four communes of Cavaillon, Barraderes, Pignon and St Michel de l’Attalaye. Bottled at natural strength, this aromatic rum is produced naturally with no herbicides or pesticides.

Clairin is Haiti’s traditional sugarcane spirit, made from freshly pressed cane juice rather than molasses. Sonson is a single-estate expression, tying its agricultural raw material and distillation to one property—a particularly direct presentation of Haiti’s distinctive cane-growing and spirits-making heritage.

This pure sugar cane rhum made at the famous Haitian distillery uses only the unprocessed juice of the sugar cane plant. The high proof unaged rhum is perfect as a crispy spicy base to any rhum cocktail.

Saint Benevolence Mango is a deeply authentic expression of Haitian clairin that speaks as much to place and purpose as it does to flavor. Distilled at the Dorcinvil Distillery in St. Michel de l’Attalaye under the guidance of Dr. Rev. Gueillant Dorcinvil, this 84 proof rum begins with raw, terroir driven clairin made in the traditional local style, then undergoes a 36 hour maceration with dried mangos, an abundant and culturally significant fruit in Haiti. That infusion is carefully blended with a portion of the distillery’s own ex bourbon barrel aged clairin, along with subtle additions of lime peel and cinnamon, creating a spirit that balances vibrancy with structure. In the glass, it shows a pale straw hue, with aromas of fresh butter, sun ripened mango, and earthy cane notes that are unmistakably clairin. The palate is lush yet precise, layering juicy mango flesh with gentle spice, a touch of oak, and a faint herbal undertone that keeps the sweetness in check. The finish is clean and dry, lifted by a soft citrus oil note that invites another sip. Equally compelling is the mission behind the bottle, as every sale funds a chemotherapy treatment while supporting jobs and economic growth in Haiti. This is a natural sipper on the rocks, but it truly shines in simple cocktails that let its character lead, from a highball with blanc vermouth to a restrained daiquiri that showcases its soul.