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Undated

Undated: (Clairin, Haiti’s Sugarcane Spirit, Rougher and Cheaper Than Rum, Produced by Small Distilleries Across the Country and Bottled by Hand, Also Used i…

Haitian

Undated: (Clairin, Haiti’s Sugarcane Spirit, Rougher and Cheaper Than Rum, Produced by Small Distilleries Across the Country and Bottled by Hand, Also Used in Vodou Ritual): Clairin is Haiti’s homegrown sugarcane spirit, distilled through the same basic process as rum but without the refinement. It comes out relatively clear, closer to American moonshine in character, and it costs significantly less than commercial rum. That price difference matters: clairin is what most Haitians actually drink. It is produced by small distilleries scattered across the country and bottled in recycled bottles with handmade labels, a cottage industry that has persisted for generations. Clairin also plays a role in certain Vodou rituals, which means it moves fluidly between the secular and the sacred, between a Friday night and a ceremony, in a way that reflects how Haitian spiritual life is woven into everyday existence rather than partitioned off from it.