VIEUX SAJOUS 5 ans 2020

This Chelo clairin is a bold and uncompromising expression of Haitian terroir, crafted with complete freedom of style. Distilled from non-hybridised Cristalline sugarcane and fermented for five to eight days with indigenous yeasts, it explores a striking aromatic register where medicinal, spicy and camphoric notes take centre stage. Bottled after pot still distillation over direct fire, it delivers an intense, characterful profile that speaks to both ancestral methods and the raw energy of Haitian clairin.

Founded in 2004 by Michel Sajous, the Chelo distillery continues a family tradition spanning more than fifty years in Saint-Michel-de-l’Attalaye, northern Haiti. Surrounded by a 30-hectare estate, the distillery cultivates Cristalline cane on site, ensuring full control from field to still. Fermentation takes place using native yeasts, followed by distillation in a direct-fire pot still fuelled by bagasse, the fibrous residue of crushed cane. This closed-loop, artisanal approach results in clairins of rare authenticity, celebrated for their expressive, terroir-driven character.