Aroma visualization from community tastings
Habitation Velier MHOBA 2017
Sipped neat with a little air, this South African pot-still MHOBA opens on glue, honey and tropical fruit, then turns buttery and creamy — think yoghurt and pear over sugarcane. At 64.6% the alcohol runs hot at first but settles after 20 minutes. Funky like a Jamaican, but rounder. Several tasters rate the FAQ Plastic higher, yet still call this one of the best MHOBAs.
The community says- Creamy yoghurt funk
- Bright tropical fruit
- But: Hot when young
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The look inside the bottle
How does Habitation Velier MHOBA 2017 taste?
Aggregated from 155 community reviews.
Funky, buttery cask-strength South African pot still Loved for its creamy, funky, sugarcane-driven profile and surprising roundness for four years old. A few find the alcohol bites early and the finish short; give it air and water.
Funk lovers who like Hampden-style esters and cask strength
Beginners — it's hot, funky and needs patience
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
69 of 155 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Recommendation
Your next rum
One difference each to this rum.
Rated better
Velier Long Pond Cambridge STC❤️E 2005
8.8/10221 €
Milder
Hampden Great House (Distillery Edition 2021)
8.6/10107 €
Similar rating, cheaper
MHOBA WR 10 (Kirsch Whisky) 2019
8.4/10120 €First choice: 70 of 86 tasters who tried both prefer it.
How is Habitation Velier MHOBA 2017 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.5 sits in the “Very good” band. 98% 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?
91% rate it 8 or higher. 46 selected write-ups from 155 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Oliver
Most helpful positive review
Very exciting and unique. Funky, citrus fruits, sugar cane and spice. Extremely intense. Slightly smoky finish and pleasant bitter notes. Only the somewhat short finish prevents a higher rating. In the blind tasting, I put it in the direction of Fiji - rather atypical for MHOBA.
Review by alex
Most helpful mixed review
It's good, it's well done, but I didn't get hooked.
Review by Thunderbird
Exceptional! The nose is fruity berry, after English wine gum, with hints of mirabelle plum brandy and Piedmont cherry!On the palate a delicate sweetness of cherry...creamy and mild it spreads, later develops a slight smoky note and coconut joins..The finish is medium long with cherry and coconut ...I am thrilled...something new and m. E. very tasty
Review by Galli33
Here we have another successful pot still bottling from Velier! This was one of my first rums from the Mhoba distillery. A rum where you can really taste the cane well, but due to the not well-integrated alcohol, it is only recommended for experienced rum lovers.
Review by Serge
Tasted with the French Cask. For me, the Habitaion Velier is just ahead. Because it's creamier and the alcohol is better integrated ... but it also costs a lot more and has spent twice as long in the cask. But for the issue price, I prefer this one ☺️ Update: Tasted again after a long time. The standard grows with experience, so a few points less, but still delicious and a great blend of funk, yoghurt, wine, vanilla and a little smoke.
Review by Giorgio Garotti
Mhoba really surprised me! I didn't know what to expect but it is a very good farm! Congratulations!
Review by zabo
Mhoba Night. For me, a very pleasant representative. Very tasty. I find the alcohol well integrated. As a conclusion, maybe it should be added that all the ones I tested were not bad, but I would have expected a bit more from the Velier bottling. Unfortunately, this one doesn't really stand out from the others.
Review by Gunnar Böhme "Bauerngaumen" 🤓
Blind tasting. Had guessed HD. 🙈 Strong lad like almost all Mhoba brothers. I like very much!
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
sehr intensiv und mhoba typisch funky und speckig rauchig. sehr komplex und außergewöhnlich und eine sehr gut eingebundene Fassstärke für ein so junges Alter! der french cask ist für mich aber dennoch deutlich besser...
Review by TheRhumhoe
A rich, opulent Mhoba for its relatively young age. The nose, extremely pastry-like, is focused on butter, yoghurt and cream, with hints of honey and aromatic flowers. Spices, wood and fruit then support medicinal notes on esters, solvents and glue. An exuberant, lively profile. The palate is intense, buttery, estery and fermented. Floral, honeyed and sweetened by cane and caramel, the profile is exotic but well-balanced. Ripe banana and warm spices line the palate, with smoky notes that are full-bodied and captivating on the palate. A hint of saltiness sharpens the aftertaste. The alcohol is well integrated. The finish extends the experience with bitterness, medicinal notes, glue, esters and candied tropical fruit. Spices (chili) and smoky notes are more discreet, but leave a delicious trail on the palate that lingers. A very fine selection by Habitation Velier, distinguished by its distinct aromas, liveliness and roundness.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
A surprisingly good rum where the ABV is very well integrated and basically just adds a warm tingle in your mouth. Very fruity on the nose and I like the wood smoke finish. I hope there will be more like this one in the future.
Review by cigares
Rum Friendly Club Day 3. Plenty of esters, overripe pineapple, fermented herbs, tropical fruit and a certain freshness with menthol. Alcohol is (too) present on the palate, fruit rises and bitterness takes over. The finish is short, with bitterness and brown sugar at the very end. An explosive rum with a beautiful nose that lacks a little complexity, an intense palate with alcohol that's not very well integrated, and a disappointing finish. The empty glass has a very pure, clean nose.
Review by Jarek
Trotz fast gleicher Alkoholstärke wie der Mhoba 2017 Navigate World Whisky ist der HV Mhoba 2017 viel bissiger. Der Alkohol sticht deutlicher heraus. Nachtrag „Kleines“ Mhoba Cross-Tasting 2025: Mit der Zeit wird er weicher und weniger alkoholisch, gefällt mir jetzt besser.
Review by Alex1981
Woah, this is intense. With some water it opens up to sugar cane, zest, citrus, funky esters, some rotten fruits. Smoky finish. Great for the young age! //update: still very intense, but good. Need to be in the right mood to enjoy ;)
Review by Frank
Basically I find Mhoba very exciting. Here is probably the oldest bottling so far (with 4 years 😉).Nose: a little biting alcohol at the beginning, then it comes very fruity. Green apple, fresh sweet lemon with a slight plum note. Reminds me of a white wine or even calvados. Some honey and sesame come in. Becomes more rounded and pleasant.Palate: spicy-fruity, toasty with something umami-like. Grassy, sweet sugar cane definitely comes through. Again, associations with white wine and sesame at the back come easily the esters.Quite something of its own. I like.
Review by Martin Augustin
Ein großartiger Rum aus Südafrika. Er hat eindeutig gehörig Funk. Vergleichbar mit einem Hampden. Dennoch schmeckt man auch Zuckerrohr, Rosinen und getrocknete Aprikosen spät im Abgang. Für die Stärke und vor allem die kurze Lagerzeit erstaunlich mild, reif und komplex. Tolle Reise!
Review by Ayc
Nice length, a clever blend of Esther on a pure rum. The bottle was opened a long time ago, so the analysis may not be right, but it's not necessarily very good... a little extreme on the rancid nose and very acidic on the palate. After opening, the nose becomes more pleasant, with hints of vanilla. On the palate, I still find the length very nice, but I'm critical of the bitterness I sometimes find on agricultural whites, which doesn't suit them. I'd say it's promising, but probably too young.
Review by mto75
The pungent alcohol dissipates after 20 minutes, then Katjes yogurt gums 😉 floral notes, Äppelwoi. On the palate, a creamy sweetness that fades into the floral and finishes with bitter cocoa, burnt sugar and roasted flavors. The variation on the nose and palate really surprised me in a positive way. Clear recommendation 👍
Review by Jakob
Sehr rund für einen nur vierjährigen Rum. Spannendes Profil mit milchig-floralen, würzigen und süssen Noten. Bin sehr gespannt darauf, wie sich Mhobas mit noch mehr Lagerzeit entwickeln werden - die junge Garde ist jedenfalls schon sehr vielversprechend.
Review by Martin Ekrt
Very strange smell. It's like a combination of honey, wax and chemicals. It reminds me a little of Mhoba FAQ. The flavour is intense, estery, honey and a transition to caramel at the end. This is not for everyone in its wildness.
Review by Basti
An der Nase relativ viel Plastik, künstliche Aromen, Klebstoff, Sahnetoffee, etwas Kamille, KaramellBonbon und etwas Chemisches.
Review by Tim
Sehr guter und runder Mhoba-Rum, der deutlich weniger rau als manch anderer Mhoba ist. Die Lagerung hat hier ganze Arbeit geleistet und ein angenehmes Bild mit dem sonst eher High-Ester-Rum erzeugt. 5 Jahre Lagerung findet man auch nicht oft, weil der Angels Share bei Mhoba durch die klimatischen Bedingungen sehr hoch ist. Viel Karamell/Honig/Schokolade, was mir gut gefällt.
Review by Rowald Sweet Empire
BOOM! This one kicks in with fierce vegetal and tropical aromas. Mhoba is truelly something unique. Lots of different flavours. Sweet in the middle and then a nice lime acidity in the long finish. Green apples. The alcohol is quite high so let it breath. But once you sit down for it...wow! Great rum.
Review by Benoit Mahe
It's very well done, but it's not my favorite profile. Maybe a little older I'd like it more!
Review by Henry Davies
It lacks the in your face roasted pineapple of the HC but it’s unmistakeably a Mhoba. Great poise and balance for a 4 year old rum. The nose is muted pineapple, some sugarcane and fruit but really very good with time. The mouth is somewhat creamy with fruit and spice in equal proportion. The finish is medium length with some warmth and spice. A really solid and refined Mhoba and would be happy to drink regularly, not as brash and memorable as other Mhoba’s but a really top rum
Review by Lukas Jäger
Spannender Stoff! In der Nase sehr alkoholisch-fruchtig, mit Assoziationen an Weißwein, Calvados oder Obstler im Allgemeinen. Am Gaumen dann zuerst ein sehr süßer Geschmack, dazu leicht rauchig und floral mit abschließend Auftritt der Ester. Leider auch noch etwas kantig, ich freue mich schon jetzt auf ältere Abfüllungen von Mhoba. Etwas eigenes und besonderes, das macht Spaß.
Review by Zorman 🇩🇰
The nose is phenomenal. A lot going on like a mix of Jamaica of Savanna high ester. A bit of water releasens some musty and deeper notes. The palatte is not so wild dominated by young wood an keeps It from getting a higher score
Review by Nils123
Die typische Mhoba Zuckerrohr Note ist deutlich präsent. Der Alkohol ist perfekt integriert. Mit Wasser verfliegt die Klebstoff Note und es kommen noch mehr Zuckerrohr und Honig. Ein sehr "gelber" Rum.
Review by Sebastian Kornett
For its four years, it has a lot to offer. I like it very much.
Review by Stefan L
Just tasted this one in a blind tasting and I really like it.
Review by m8375e
an elegant expression of mhoba
Review by Christoph
Geht sehr ins florale und erinnert mich vom Geruch total an einen südafrikanischen Wein, die ich im Gegensatz zu Rum auch schon kannte. Im Geschmack wechseln sich eher süße Noten und Kokosnuss mit Weintrauben ab. Tendiert ganz leicht dazu „künstlich“ zu wirken aber nicht so wie Red Bull sondern eher wie ein guter Kaugummi (positiv gemeint).
Review by Luca
Wirklich schön zu sehen, dass auch junge Distillery‘s spitzen Qualität abliefern können. Dieser Tropfen ist sehr vielschichtig und komplex. Sowohl in der Nase als auch am Gaumen.
Review by tojo
Eine schöne Nase mit Backwaren, Zucker, Butter und etwas verbranntem. Geschmacklich kommt dann leider nicht mehr so viel nach. Etwas Frucht und auch bittere Noten. Der Abgang wirkt lange nach.
Review by Jakob Mmmmhhh
It’s like my favorite rum (Hampden 2010 HGML), in a „this is special and I like it“ way, but in a more balanced way so that I can enjoy it more often.
Review by Alexander Rasch
Yes... awesome. For me the best Mhoba so far. It's fun. A lot happens here. The rum changes by the minute. Very complex. A rum that needs time but can also be sipped easily due to its sweetness. Top!!!
Review by Harald
Farbe: Leuchtendes Gold Geruch: Zu Beginn gleich funky, ein Schwall Ester (fruchtig, Lösungsmittel) mit Honig. Süß, tropische Früchte (Passionsfrucht, Ananas, Banane, afrikanische Wollmispel). Sehr fruchtig. Nach kurzem Stehen kommt dann auch Vanille durch. Sehr lecker. Geschmack: Im Mund intensiv fruchtig-alkoholisch und Honig-süß. Beim Schlucken kräftig und sehr fruchtig mit Estern. Birne, Passionsfrucht und reife Papaya. Sehr würzig mit Vanille und Holz. Abgang: Mittellang Würzig-holzig, dabei immer noch fruchtig mit Estern. Trockener Nachgeschmack. Ein klasse Rum, der zeigt was die Destillerie kann.
Review by Filip Šikula
Zlatý adventní kalendář 2024
Review by Florent Apl
I'm trying one if my favorite bottling, both from Mhoba and Habitation Velier. The nose is very inviting, I have a combination of tropical fruits, honey syrup and milk chocolate, hold bathing in butter. The mouth is also complex but slightly different. I still have the fruits in honey syrup, but here there are some chili and herbal notes, and if course, ester. It's still sweet, very easy to drink, the ester content is not very high which I think in this case is a very good thing, as it let's other aromas shine through The final is on young wood, as well as sweet fruits. This is a very nice rum, complex but that you can also drink every day. The only downside would be it's availability, it's hard to find now and when it is it's often for unreasonably high prices.
Review by BnBrt
Belle découverte, un rhum très complexe avec un peu de funk. Nez assez funky avec un côté maturé/humide, une note de fraîcheur un peu médicamenteuse. First kiss très agréable. Une complexité incroyable avec plusieurs temps marqués, attaque sur le miel. La douceur laisser place au fut avec l'alcool qui prend plus de place. Du funk puis la finale en salade de fruits exotiques. Très belle longueur.
Review by Djehey
Profile pas si fruité que ça (plus au nez qu'en bouche). Plutôt sur la vanille, la crème, le sucre... Qui fait forcément penser à une crème brûlée et à une crème anglaise. Peu complexe mais agréable pour un si haut degré (alcool bien intégré).
Review by Buddudharma
Im direkten Vergleich mit dem FAQ und dem Kirsch etwas weniger voluminös und mit kurzem Abgang. Schönes Profil, aber andere Abfüllungen haben hier mittlerweile die Nase vorn, daher leichte Korrektur nach unten.
Review by Jeremy Roger 🇫🇷
The attack is spicy and warm, then reveals fruit and honey. With aeration, the evolution is interesting, and should be even more so with a bottle, as the spiciness becomes more masked and mingles with the aromas. The timid woodiness adds its own touch to this gustatory jumble of fruit. It's funky
Review by Stijn Zino
Comparing with FAQ Plastic Plastic is still the better more balanced one. This is nice if you feel like a stronger Mhoba. Every sip I get a very creamy impression, I think this is one of the most buttery, creamy, yoghurt like rums I ever had. Very nice nose with fruit and ester.
Review by Vincent D
Young and promising. Too powerful for my taste to be really appreciated. But what Mhoba is doing is really good and worth following.
Review by cetto
Della serie habitation velier questo mhoba per ora batte il funk jamaicano secondo il mio gusto
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Expert reviews
4 critics scored it, averaging 8.6/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..
Expert review by Single Cask Rum
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Expert review by The Secret Rum Bar
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Expert review by Préférence Rhum
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Expert review by The Dunder Hut
Not nearly as good as the faq plastic. But nethertheless a proper Habitation velier release. This is a glue delight in both the nose and the palate. I fear though it is hard to get mhoba in really excellent. Still a well done entry...
Live auctions
Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Market value
What this bottle last achieved at auction. A research indicator, not a forecast.
Auction results 63 € – 132 €
from 22 sales, latest 09/2026
Prices incl. buyer's premium — what a buyer pays, not what a sale nets you.
Avg. community purchase price 114 €
What members paid for this bottle, self-reported. Not a market value — the purchases are over three years old at the median and unverified.
Details about Habitation Velier MHOBA 2017
A Pot Still Rum from South Africa, bottled by Habitation Velier, at 64,6%.
Community purchases
219 bottles logged by 172 collectors.
A drinker & collector.
18% opened, 17 emptied and repurchased.
What does Habitation Velier MHOBA 2017 cost?
Community paid 89–149 €.
Current best price: 199.90 € – above the typical community range.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
+5 purchases in the last 3 months.
Added to collections, last 12 months — dark bars are the last 3.
219 purchased · 159 tasted · 43 wishlist · as of
About the MHOBA distillery
The MHOBA distillery is located in South Africa. Rums from MHOBA have been reviewed 2,493 times with an average of 8.2/10.
To MHOBA →Read on in the RumX Guide
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Habitation Velier Hampden DOK 2017Intense but rounded tropical-aged DOK
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Velier Hampden Specially Bottled for Whisky Live Paris 2023 HLCF 2020
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