Le Rocher Clairin 2021

Clairin is Haiti's village cane-juice rum, distilled from heirloom cane on wild, spontaneous fermentation, agricole in spirit even though the word cannot legally apply. Le Rocher is a single-village clairin from the 2021 vintage, distilled on a pot still and bottled unaged.

Bottled at 49.5%, it shows the turbo-charged funk and freshness that define the style. The nose is smoky and floral with sugarcane and citrus, the palate turns fruity and fresh with a savoury, green-olive edge, and the finish carries ripe fruit, smoke and citrus. There is a wild, almost mezcal-like smokiness running through it that sets it apart from the gentler island agricoles. This is a characterful, off-the-beaten-path white for drinkers ready for something untamed, excellent for focused neat sipping or a bold cocktail.