RHUM CLAIRIN - Artisanal white rum - Sajous 2021 - 54.2%
The Clairins represent the authenticity of Haitian rums, a unique country in the Caribbean with its 532 small independent artisanal distilleries. Haiti is recognized as the first nation to abolish slavery in 1804 and remains one of the last strongholds of traditional and purist production methods. Here, all steps – from the cultivation of non-hybrid sugarcane to ancestral distillation techniques – are respected to guarantee uncompromising quality: native cane varieties, chemical-free agriculture, spontaneous fermentation without added yeasts, and archaic unfiltered distillation.
The sugarcane is grown in natural coexistence ("intercropping") with other local plant species such as banana and mango, thus promoting a healthy and sustainable ecosystem. Cultivation is done without chemical intervention until harvest, which occurs 18 months after planting. The manual harvest is distinguished by the use of the machete, a traditional blade shaped for cutting cane, while transport to the distillery is done with ox-drawn carts, preserving the authenticity of the process. The cut canes are then carried by hand to the mill, where they are pressed between rollers. The cane juice flows into a natural stone container, next to which the pressed canes are dried according to ancestral know-how.
To respect the prestigious "Triple A" designation, the process follows a strict protocol: fermentation must last at least 120 hours to fully develop the aromas, and distillation is carried out exclusively in a maximum of 5 pot stills equipped with copper plates in direct contact with the flame. The rum is bottled only at the still's output, guaranteeing exceptional freshness and purity, and this bottling takes place entirely in Haiti.
This Clairin Sajous is the result of the meticulous work of Michel Sajous, master distiller at the Chelo distillery located in Saint Michel de l’Attalaye. This exceptional white rum comes from the 2021 harvest, made from pure juice of the Cristalline sugarcane variety. Its discontinuous fermentation took place in a traditional pot still, giving each bottle a unique, vibrant character rich in terroir.
