Clairin Coalition: United in Strength

Clairin Coalition is an international project that brings together a selected group of bars around the world, united by a shared mission: to showcase diversity, share passion and spread the culture of Clairin.

After several challenging years, between the pandemic, Haiti’s political crisis and significant supply difficulties, Velier and The Spirit of Haiti are ready to relaunch the Clairin universe with renewed energy. Over 70 venues in 9 countries - from Italy to France, Germany to Singapore - are taking part in a project designed to bring together, and expand, the entire global family of Clairin lovers.

“Coalition” is more than just a name: it is a manifesto.

Since 2015, with the creation of the ageing warehouse in Port-au-Prince, The Spirit of Haiti has built a unique ecosystem: Clairins from the five producers - Sajous, Vaval, Casimir, Le Rocher and Sonson - today rest in casks that once held legendary rums and spirits such as Caroni, Hampden, Worthy Park and Bielle, as well as prestigious whisky and cognac.

From these experiments come the Ansyen Single Casks, aged in a tropical climate. Today, with the Clairin Coalition, this opportunity extends to bartenders: each participating country will select its own cask, which will become a national exclusive.

On November 3rd, ten of Italy’s top bartenders gathered at Velier for a tasting and selection session led by Daniele Biondi, Global Project Manager.

After an in-depth masterclass on Clairin culture and a series of cask samples, the group unanimously chose a Clairin Le Rocher distilled in 2022 and aged in an ex-Benriach whisky cask.

A unique expression, soon to become Clairin Coalition Italy, available exclusively at the ten participating bars.

The Italian members of this new adventure are:

• Daiquiri Cocktails Bar, Cormano
• Piro Piro, Reggio Calabria
• Il Mercante, Venezia
• Volare, Bologna
• Lève Office Bar, Torino
• L’Antiquario, Napoli
• Vinoteca, Siracusa
• Aguardiente, Marina di Ravenna
• Jerry Thomas Speakeasy, Roma
• Depero, Rieti
• Gradisca, Genova

Each venue will receive a share of the selected cask, featuring a dedicated illustrated label depicting the chosen distillery, and a back label listing all participating bars.

Being part of the Coalition means embracing a shared vision.

Each participating bar commits to featuring at least one Clairin Communal cocktail on the menu, and to keeping the full range of the five producers on the back bar.

To make the experience even more authentically Haitian, every venue will also receive two Florita Bitter expressions - Chadèque (local grapefruit) and Amande-Pays (Haitian almond) - to craft cocktails inspired by the island’s spices, herbs and biodiversity.

Clairin Coalition was created to reignite curiosity and awareness around the most authentic and identity-driven rum of the Caribbean.

“L’union fait la force” - also written on the Clairin Communal label - is the principle guiding the entire project: uniting producers, bartenders and enthusiasts to build the future of Clairin together.

Beyond Italy, selections have already taken place in Denmark, Belgium, and Germany. Next will come France, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Singapore and the United Kingdom, each with its own dedicated cask.

Once every country has received its bottles, the goal is to organize a Coalition Global Day, a worldwide celebration of Clairin and its community.

In the meantime, the ten Italian venues will carry forward the mission of the Coalition, spreading Haitian culture through their cocktails - once again proving that the strength of Clairin lies in its power to bring people together.