Aroma visualization from community tastings
Velier Arawaks Clairin Ansyen Vaval (The Nectar) 2016
People already into Haitian clairin will feel at home here: fresh sugarcane, olive, grass and thyme, with that medicinal glue/polish edge and a spicy young-oak lift. It was aged in an ex-Caroni cask, but almost nobody tastes it — several reviewers found the barrel "quasi impossible to detect." Dry, herbaceous and a touch salty, with a bit of alcohol sharpness.
The community says- Fresh sugarcane
- Herbal and olive
- Cask barely noticeable
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The look inside the bottle
How does Velier Arawaks Clairin Ansyen Vaval (The Nectar) 2016 taste?
Aggregated from 32 community reviews.
Dry, herbal clairin with faint Caroni cask Well-liked as a characterful little clairin, though many feel it lacks depth and note the ex-Caroni cask barely shows. Herbal, olive-driven and slightly hot.
Clairin and grassy pot-still fans
Anyone wanting sweet, easy sipping
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
10 of 32 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
How is Velier Arawaks Clairin Ansyen Vaval (The Nectar) 2016 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 7.8 sits in the “Good” band. 93% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
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Community voices
What does the community say?
75% rate it between 6 and 8. 5 selected write-ups from 32 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Roman Lelek
In taste and aroma it reminds me of Jamaica, but there are not many grassy notes.
Review by Leo Krüper
Very light. Caroni barrel virtually unrecognizable. Only a hint of burnt tar at the very end of the finish. Much rounder with more oxidation in the bottle. Very drinkable little Clairin at a great price.
Review by Rhum Mirror 🇧🇪
The nose is very sugarcane-oriented, given that this is a young old or young old (as you like). But what really stands out is the herbaceous profile. Strawberry, vanilla and olive follow... it's pretty rock and roll! The nose is attractive and rather promising... On the palate, it's spicy and again herbaceous-mentholated. The olive is very present! The finish is rather long on banana. It's a blend of agricultural gourmandise and Jamaican explosiveness. But without really choosing sides. As a result, we're between two waters. And compared to the Providence 2019, the impact of the Ex-Caroni cask is very little present and brings no real interest. The concentrated, atypical profile is nice to have in your bar, even if it's not something crazy, far from it. This may serve as a point of comparison for future Haitian tastings, as I think we'll continue to be invaded by Clairin. Thanks again to Rumstylez for sharing the bottles that enabled us to continue learning about this destination. And our friend Bernard, who loves this juice, was lucky enough to leave with the last few cl of the bottle... See you in April for our Rum Artesanal tasting?
Review by Johannes
A beautifully spicy clairin that doesn't really show the Caroni finish.
Review by TheRhumhoe
One of the first clairins to be aged in Caroni barrels, this bottling is halfway between the herbal (grass, thyme) and medicinal (glue) notes of traditional clairins and the spicier side of the barrel (ginger, chili pepper, paprika, pepper). Mango intrudes deep into the nostrils to open up the aromatic spectrum. The profile is dry, and doesn't fully reveal itself. The nose is more planty and spicy. There's a hint of olive, earthiness and that young, spicy woodiness. The medicinal side is still perceptible with polish. A few fruits stand out too (dried fruits, tropicals and citrus). The alcohol is fairly well integrated, but it's clear that this clairin wants to turn up the watts. Once again, despite the profile's promise, the impression is that it lacks a little depth and expression on the palate. The finish is of decent length, spicier (ginger) and still green. Despite some hints of alcohol, there's a slightly honeyed sweetness that caresses the palate. The finish is almost more pleasant than the mouth itself. Not a bad clairin, but a little too restrained and with little Caroni influence, if only for the commercial aspect.
Details about Velier Arawaks Clairin Ansyen Vaval (The Nectar) 2016
A Clairin from Haiti, bottled by Velier, at 48,6%.
Community purchases
7 bottles logged by 7 collectors.
A drinker's rum.
42% opened, 3 emptied and repurchased.
7 purchased · 34 tasted · 6 wishlist · as of
About the Arawaks distillery
The Arawaks distillery is located in Haiti. Rums from Arawaks have been reviewed 514 times with an average of 8.0/10.
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