Saint Benevolence Clairin

I had the clarin Saint benovlance and my god it's so different .
Notes of fresh bannana, greens olive and live grass. The story behind it is beautiful and Intriguing .

This smelled and tasted like medicines and chemicals. I have not had any other Clairins so nothing to refer to. I don't recommend this one.

My first clairin was Clairin Le Rocher that I rated as an 8. I took a chance on this one today that is 100 proof. The fine print says that it is for a charitable cause. Some folks need any excuse to drink, but I just wanted to see what other clairins are like. This is like night and day from my first try.

The aroma can almost fill up a room. That is your first warning that this is hell fire. There is really nothing at all pleasant about this one, but I have found much worse thanks to all of the cheap flavored rums and other really horrible rums. It is sad when ones like this rate as average for me. This certainly has no added sugar and probably no hangover. That is all that I can say about it that is good. If one grew up drinking this and that is all that you knew of, then maybe you could love it. Otherwise, this is definitely an acquired taste. I would compare it more to a Mexican Charanda than a true agricole. Don't say that I did not warn you! The only way to save this stuff from going down the drain is by adding lime juice.

I feel really bad rating this rum so low. The gentleman at the tasting where I tried this was so excited to talk about it and share this rum, but I just can't rate this higher than a 2. It has such a strong note of mushrooms, I couldn't get over it. He described it as a very, very strong funk. Perhaps that's accurate. Looking through some of the other reviews, I tend to agree with the bitter and briny notes. I'm sure there are people who like earthy and briny notes in their spirits (I for example hate olives, so maybe that helps put this review into perspective), so I'm sure some people will like this style, but this is a hard pass.

Is this rum or is this a cousin to Mazcal?

Some smoked notes with hints of maple and vanilla.

Definitely different.

First sip is an adjustment.
Major aroma. Not the best for me. But then the taste is more like other rums. Slight funk and burnt sugar etc but smooths out after a few sips, get marshmallow, slight heat

I’m not a big fan of Haitian rums and I’ve been wary of trying them. For this rum being 100 proof, it’s not truly terrible. The flavor profile is lacking but it resembles a watered down agricole. The finish has a decent burn. This is not one that keep but MIGHT use in a pinch.

Reminds me of a bad cachaca with a bitter grassy flavor.

Nice white rum with all bark and no bite. Looks rough like a standard white but finishes nicely. Not a premium white but certainly a step above the norm. Well done.

I was particularly disappointed by this offering, it was too strong upfront and almost unpalatable on the backend. This works well mixed in a cocktail with plenty citrus and sugar to balance it out, and I’d even suggest blending another rum in to make it play better.

Not terrible, but not anywhere near the superb Velier offerings.