CLAIRIN 2021 Sajous, 54.2% ABV

There are over 500 small distilleries in the countryside of Haiti and the diversity of production of local spirit, called Clairin – or Kleren – varies widely with an incredible variety of Clairin styles.

Clairin Sajous is produced at Distillerie Chelo, owned by Michel Sajous in the countryside of Saint-Michel-de-l’Attalaye, about four hours north of Port au Prince.

Third generation distiller Michel Sajous produces his Clairin near the village of Saint Michel de, a beautiful plateau in the north of Haiti. He built Distillerie Chelo in 2004, in the very place where his former family-run distillery once stood. Surrounding the distillery, many different varieties of sugarcane grow organically without fertilizer, pesticides or chemicals. Among these varietals is the incredible long lost Cane Cristalline.
The harvest takes place between December and August. The cane is hand cut by machete and transported to the distillery with help of mules and pressed. The fresh juice is fermented with natural, wild yeast for 5 to 7 days. The distillate is produced with a small traditional pot still powered by burning bagasse attached to a small column still with six copper plates. After a 6 hour single distillation the spirit comes off the still between 50% and 60% ABV and is bottled without any reduction.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Fresh and straightforward. Coconut husk, chlorophyll, unripe pear, freshly cut grass, green.

Palate: Dry and raw. Fresh sugar cane, white pepper, cream, lime oil, unripe melon.

Finish: Long and generous. Herbal notes.

Key Information

Serving Suggestions
First things first, be comfortable, relaxed and free from distractions. Pour a healthy amount (15-25ml) into a nosing glass (e.g., glencairn) and let it sit for a while. We recommend a minute of resting in the glass for every year in the cask. Otherwise, let it settle down for 5-10 minutes at least.

Help yourself to a 'warm up dram' in the meantime - something simple to open up the palate. When ready, start nosing the spirit, followed by sipping it (noting how it arrives on your palate and its development), and finally the finish. Take your time to get to know the spirit, noting its expression, character, depth, complexity and flavours. These can all change with adding drops of water so play around to find different sides of the spirit and identity a personal sweet spot for yourself!

We find this enjoyable on the rocks as well, and our personal sweet spot is a cube of ice with 25ml of the spirit in a glencairn!

But always remember, the best way to drink it is the way you like it!