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B1861021-4FD5-4E5A-A4DF-0F6FCFA2C4CFHaiti Arawaks Velier
Velier Arawaks Clairin Ansyen Vaval (Mount Gay Cask) 2017 70cl bottle
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Clairin · 1 year 10mo · 50,2%

Velier Arawaks Clairin Ansyen Vaval (Mount Gay Cask) 2017

Clairin drinkers who find the raw cane-juice bottlings too vegetal will click with this one — the barrel takes the edge off. Anise and licorice lead the nose, backed by grilled pineapple, yellow orchard fruit and coconut. The palate turns minty and herbal with black tea, a little young oak, and a salty finish. Several tasters kept comparing it to a "dreckigen TDL."

The community says
  • Anise-licorice nose
  • Grilled pineapple
  • But: Salty finish
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The look inside the bottle

How does Velier Arawaks Clairin Ansyen Vaval (Mount Gay Cask) 2017 taste?

Aggregated from 23 community reviews.

Herbal, minty aged Clairin with anise and fruit The herbal-minty surprise of more than one tasting here — fruitier and more approachable than most Clairins, with the cask smoothing the rough edges. A few just couldn't warm to it.

Perfect for

Clairin fans wanting fruit over raw vegetal

Less suitable for

newcomers put off by anise and salt

Style & occasion

How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.

Which glass for which rum? The community guide →

Top aromas · nose & palate

13 of 23 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums

Recommendation

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How is Velier Arawaks Clairin Ansyen Vaval (Mount Gay Cask) 2017 rated?

RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.1 sits in the “Very good” band. 95% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →

Community voices

What does the community say?

65% rate it 8 or higher. 9 selected write-ups from 23 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.

Review by lukasdrinkinghabits

Most helpful positive review

lukasdrinkinghabits
May 2022192 reviewsGermany
8.6/10

Number 5 from the community tasting. Thank you RumTaTa! Nose: Aniseed on the verge of ouzo, plus liquorice. Then overripe apple, crumbly Boskop, yellow fruit. Towards the back, minty herbs arrive on the nose, reminiscent of the dirty TDLs. Mouth: also aniseed and licorice. In the mouth, the barrel comes in as young oak with the corresponding vanilla. Mint and hay can also be found. I wouldn't have been able to classify it blind, it's most likely a young, dirty TDL. Really delicious. It's a shame that it's no longer available.

Review by F.L.O.

Most helpful mixed review

F.L.O.
Feb 2024312 reviewsGermany
7.2/10

Heute ist nicht mein Clairin-Tag. Noch so ein Ding, den ich schwer einzuordnen finde. Der milden Nass folgt ein durchwachsener Geschmack, der durchaus facettenreich ist. Nur nichts davon gefällt mir (zumindest heute).

Review by HenryL

HenryL
Feb 2023272 reviewsGermany
8.4/10

Toller kräuterig-minziger Clairin! Trifft meinen Geschmack deutlich mehr als die Gemüse lastigeren Vertreter aus Haiti

Review by RumTaTa

RumTaTa
Jun 2022456 reviewsGermany
8.2/10

It is always a little adventure to taste a Clairin. This one has a surprising nose of mirabelle plums! On the palate, it is surprisingly sweet and fleetingly reminiscent of a dirty T.D.L. with lots of herbs. The finish is medium-long and salty. There is no alcoholic spiciness at any time. Very exciting!

Review by Rum man

Rum man
Feb 202373 reviewsNetherlands
7.9/10

Relatively sweet. Comes in with some hotness when you start to sip which leads to a giant presence of flavor. You cannot escape the fruit and liquorice cocktail it serves you. It finishes soft and salty before being peppery again. Really a banger.

Review by DosenZorn

DosenZorn
May 2022163 reviewsGermany
8.1/10

Danke an RumTaTa für die Samples und das Tasting. Wow, was für ein toller Geruch, nach gelbem Kernobst, Kokos, Apfel und Fruchtgummi. Könnt ich ewig dran riechen. Geschmacklich dann eher Minze, Tee und Zitrone, mit etwas salzigen. Mein Favorit, des Tastings.

Review by Christoph

Christoph
May 2022446 reviewsGermany
8.8/10

Deutlich fruchtiger als typische Clairin. Im Abgang eher Kräuter und Schwarztee. In der Nase gegrillte Ananas.

Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰

Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
Jan 20245,879 reviewsDenmark
8.5/10

03.04.2020 Nice private tasting with a new group of rummies. Notes. Light in colour. Nose Fresh, anise, light licorice, leather, cherries, mint, dried fruit. Palate Warm, cherry, anise, ginger, herbs, medium dry, mint, light chocolate. Finish Medium long, warm, fruity, mint, light licorice, spice.

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Expert reviews

Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..

Market value

Avg. community purchase price 54 €

What members paid for this bottle, self-reported. Not a market value — the purchases are over three years old at the median and unverified.

How we calculate this →

Details about Velier Arawaks Clairin Ansyen Vaval (Mount Gay Cask) 2017

A Clairin from Haiti, bottled by Velier, at 50,2%.

CountryHaiti
DistilleryArawaks
BottlerVelier
CategoryClairin
DistillationPot Still
ABV50,2%
Volume70cl
Age1 year 10mo
Vintage2017
Cask no.#VV16MG-1

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Community purchases

10 bottles logged by 10 collectors.

A drinker's rum.

40% opened, 3 emptied and repurchased.

6 sealed 1 open 3 emptied

10 purchased · 23 tasted · 6 wishlist · as of

About the Arawaks distillery

The Arawaks distillery is located in Haiti. Rums from Arawaks have been reviewed 529 times with an average of 8.0/10.

To Arawaks →

Read on in the RumX Guide

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9.0–10.0 Excellent Stash as many as you can afford. Tell no one.
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