What is Clairin? How is it like rum?

Clairin is a sugarcane rum, much like Rhum Agricole, produced in Haiti. The sugarcane used is all original, indigenous varieties, and there's no chemical interference with their agriculture. Fermentation is spontaneous with ambient yeasts and then it is distilled just once, no water is added to dilute and there is no filtration. The production method has been unchanged since the 18th century. The resulting style is similar to Rhum Agricole, but much more authentic and rustic across the board.

It is considered to be the raw form of rum, as Haiti escaped European industrialisation during their revolution in 1791-1804 unlike other Caribbean islands. This is why the methods are more ancestral.

Clairin is the Creole word for clear, pointing to the fact that it is unaged and pure sugarcane flavour. Although, there have been a few limited editions with some wood age.

In the country are around 500-600 microdistilleries, many of which are shacks servicing their local community. Due to the non-interventionist production methods of Clairin, this makes it one of the most terroir-important spirits in the world, in a similar way to wine regions. Each micro-climate affects the sugar cane, each sugarcane variety the final product. Many of the commercially available Clairin's will reflect their single estate produce because of this. A couple of larger companies in the capital produce a more industrial style with a lighter taste.