Saint Benevolence Rum Clairin
Saint Benevolence Rum Clairin is Haiti's indigenous cane spirit in its pure, unaged form — a field blend of heritage sugarcane distilled as juice and syrup in handmade copper pot stills at the Dorcinvil Distillery in Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye, bottled clear at 50% ABV (100 proof) in 750mL. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 50% (100 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: Unaged — bottled clear ("kleren")
- Base: Field blend of indigenous cane (Cristalline, Madame Meuze, Farine France, 24/14), as juice and syrup
- Distillation: Handmade copper pot stills; juice and syrup fermented and distilled separately
- Distillery: Dorcinvil Distillery, Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye
- Origin: Haiti
Haiti's Kleren, Bottled at Full Strength
Every Haitian village has its distillery, and clairin — kleren — is the spirit they make: heritage cane crushed for juice and boiled into syrup, wild-yeast fermented, pot-distilled and bottled without aging, additives or dilution of character. Saint Benevolence, made by Master Distiller Dr. Rev. Gueillant Dorcinvil and imported by Skurnik, is the clairin that introduced most American drinkers to the category — grassy, funky and electric at 100 proof, and scored 92 points by VinePair. The brand is a working partnership with Haiti: under its current programme, each case sold funds a week of chemotherapy through Innovating Health International, with support for Haiti Air Ambulance alongside. Browse the Saint Benevolence collection and the wider rum shelf at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Importer Skurnik's notes run fruit leather, overripe apple, green olive, sweet corn and flint on the nose; the palate is roasted corn, key lime, guava skin and tamarind — grassy, briny and vividly funky, with the cane itself in every sip.
How to Enjoy
Drink it the Haitian way in a ti' punch — clairin, lime and a little cane syrup over ice — or neat in small pours to study it. It is also a revelation in a Daiquiri, where its funk does the work of three rums at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does clairin taste like? Unaged cane spirit at full character: grassy and vegetal, with tropical fruit, green olive brine and a wild, funky edge — closer to a rhum agricole or a mezcal in spirit than to a molasses rum.
Is Saint Benevolence rum aged? This bottling is not — it is bottled clear and unaged. The Aged Rum Clairin (same distillery, same cane) rests 18–22 months in new American oak.
How is clairin made? Heritage sugarcane is pressed into juice and also boiled down to syrup; the two are wild-yeast fermented and distilled separately in handmade copper pot stills, then blended and bottled at 50% ABV.
What does my purchase support? Saint Benevolence's current charity programme funds a week of chemotherapy via Innovating Health International for every case sold, and supports Haiti Air Ambulance.
The original kleren, wild and unaged — order Saint Benevolence Rum Clairin online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.