Clairin

Clairin (/kleɪˈrɛn/, French pronunciation: [klɛʁɛ̃], Haitian Creole: Kleren) is a distilled alcoholic spirit made from sugarcane produced in Haiti, that undergoes the same distillation process as rhum, although not as refined.[1]

There are between 500 and 600 micro-distilleries in Haiti,[2][3] compared to fewer than 50 in total throughout the rest of the Caribbean. The distilleries known as guildives are artisan productions: most of them are small shacks dotted around the countryside producing for the consumption of their own villages.

Clairin is made from indigenous cane varieties, non-hybridized, with no chemical interference in the agriculture. They are spontaneously fermented with no yeast selected, distillation techniques from the mid-18th century, and no filtration.[4][3]

  1. ^ Hall, Michael R. (2012). Historical Dictionary of Haiti. p. 64. ISBN 9780810878105. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Traditional Haitian Clairin - Presìdi Slow Food". Slow Food Foundation. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  3. ^ a b "Clairin – Haiti's organic ancestral rum – is coming to America". 10Best. 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  4. ^ "One of the Purest Rums on Earth Comes From Tiny Haitian Distilleries". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2020-01-22.