Rum Haiku 46

Pick up a bottle
The beating heart of Haiti
rum blooded and bold

Learning About The Story Of Barbancourt Rum With Delphine Gardère (Rumcast Review)

Haiti produces some of the most unique rum in the world and it’s gained more attention in recent years, becoming an extension of Haitian culture. Called clairin, this spirit has brought more awareness to Haitian brands, including Barbancourt, which is arguably the most well-known Haitian rum producer. 

It’s important to note that Barbancourt exists in a category of its own. It’s neither rhum agricole or clairin and until I listened to the Rumcast’s interview with the CEO of Barbancourt, Delphine Gardère, I believed their rum could be categorised as clairin. Read on to learn more about Gardère’s story and how Barbancourt rum stands out.

A Pirate’s Life: Henri Caesar

Pirates and rum go hand in hand, thanks to the efforts of authors like Robert Louis Stevenson, who popularised the idea of scallywags downing copious amounts of rum. It’s from this rich tradition that A Pirate’s Life was born. The series chronicles the drinking habits of history’s most infamous brigands. 

The Haitian pirate Henri Caesar earned a reputation for himself during the Haitian Revolution, when he teamed up with Dutty Boukman and Toussaint Louverture to change the course of history. The rum in Caesar’s collection would tell the story of Haiti and his travels across the sea.

Rum Haiku 23

The taste of freedom
captured, honoured, preserved, bottled
distilled Haitian dreams

A Brief Introduction To Clairin (And 3 Types To Try!)

Like many islands of the Caribbean, Haiti has a history that is rich in rum production. But look deeper and you’ll find that the island has its own indigenous spirit known as clairin, which at first glance may look like a regular unaged rum, but in reality there’s so much more to it.

Rum Haiku 10

Spirit of Haiti
Clairin forged on the frontier
Creole history