Aroma visualization from community tastings
Velier Sonson Pierre Gilles Clairin Sonson 2018
One member's wife called it "a compost bin with rotten apples" — and honestly, the nose is the whole debate here. Expect olives, glue, grass and a funky vegetal wildness that some find hard to get past. But the palate turns fruitier and softer: fresh sugarcane, salty licorice, minerals, a savory umami finish. Several tasters rank this their favorite Haitian white.
The community says- Fresh sugarcane depth
- Fruity, complex palate
- Pungent, funky nose
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The look inside the bottle
How does Velier Sonson Pierre Gilles Clairin Sonson 2018 taste?
Aggregated from 127 community reviews.
Wild, grassy Haitian white with a funky nose Loved by clairin fans for its wild, grassy, salty-mineral character and fruity palate. The pungent, vegetal nose divides people — some can't get past it, others sip happily.
Clairin lovers and fans of raw, grassy, savory rhum
Anyone put off by pungent, vegetal, salty flavors
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
55 of 127 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
How is Velier Sonson Pierre Gilles Clairin Sonson 2018 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.0 sits in the “Very good” band. 84% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
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Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Community voices
What does the community say?
59% rate it between 6 and 8. 19 selected write-ups from 127 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Mirko Frosini 🇮🇪
Most helpful positive review
Clairin nice and dirty like the Vaval and Le Rocher.These white rums I love them and I can taste real rum in them without too many refinements just like in the pirate days. Sure they are not refined nor easy, but they are authentic!
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Most helpful mixed review
says to me unfortunately not so really to.on the nose first cucumber and glue, plus some raspberries and licorice?! first good but then unfortunately not my taste so at all... rather an old cucumber, and bitter, old mint, light citrus notes, licorice, a lot of acid, a little salty and overall much too vinegar-heavy and me too sour and too fermented and musty. but still an exciting further, again completely different style than the other 5 clairins and therefore an exciting extension!In the daiquiri, the whole thing then goes tasteless in the direction of raspberry sorbet with pickled cucumber water, in ne perverse way horny but there you have to have real Bock on it 🤣
Review by Oliver
Great Clairin with exciting mushroom-fruit combination.
Review by Galli33
Real nice one from clairin! I have to say the rum from renegade are very similar to those from clairin. This is very fruity, floral.. The alcohol is not so present as on other bottling, which makes this a really good sipper
Review by Thunderbird
A beautiful soft clairin with intense herbal aromas, successful bottling
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
This is another good Clairin that I can recommend if you like Clairin. Price to quality is very good. The nose is fresh and sweet with strawberries, grass and a light mineral note. The palate is oily and fruity with salty licorice, sugarcane as well ans light notes of tobacco, mineral and smoke. The finish is long with smoky wood, salty licorice and a hint of tobacco.
Review by Michael Schillheim
Tasted the Clairin Sonson a second time today and I like it a little better than the first time. Raspberries, glue and olives on the nose. On the palate, there are still beautiful fruity notes, slightly salty, mineral and above all herbal, which introduce the medium-long finish. Rating adjustment from 7.7 to 7.9
Review by Serge
Bang rum and one of my favorites. Nose strongly of olive and black truffle (yes, really). Also slightly burnt on the palate. Yummy.
Review by mto75
The Sanson has a pronounced root-mushroom-vinegar note on the nose. On the palate, earth and potatoes. I like the Communal and the Sajous better because they bring more freshness.
Review by Fuwi
Puh. In der Nase ist der echt "schwierig". Ich fand, er stinkt vedorben, faule Eier mit Klebstoff und altem Gemüse. Hab mich echt überwinden müssen, den zu trinken... Aber da wurde ich überrascht! Florale, erdige und mineralische Eindrücke mit Ester-Anleihen. Aber aufgrund des Geruches keine Kaufoption für mich, auch wenn der Geschmack einiges wett gemacht hat
Review by Johannes
Not quite my cup of tea. Too much salty-grassy notes, olives, not fruity enough for me.
Review by MarcT
Good, but best for Cocktails, too raw when pure. Update: really enjoyable neat after having a Hampden C<>H and a bit of Oxidation.
Review by Skyfly
In der Nase eine interessante Kombi aus Olive und Himbeere; daneben noch sehr fruchtig, floral und Zuckerrohr. Im Gaumen steht der Zuckerrohr im Vordergrund, sowie weitere pflanzliche/ erdige Noten und etwas rauchiges. Im Abgang wieder sehr rauchig/ salzig.
Review by Gunnar Böhme "Bauerngaumen" 🤓
Nose: sour pickled vegetables Palate: relatively fruity and pleasing, but also somehow light and uniform, not as surprising as the nose; The Clairin Casimir from the same year (RX11461) clearly says more to me.
Review by Mentalo
On the one hand, the Clairin Sonson is more complex and fundamentally more interesting than my favorite Sajous, but on the other hand, it doesn't suit my taste. A lot of acidity (almost vinegary), very herbal, salty, licorice, a little fruity in the direction of raspberry. The alcohol is well integrated.
Review by Nils123
Gefällt mir sehr gut. Ich mag die lange Zuckerrohr-Note im Abgang. Die Aromen ergänzen sich sehr gut und ergeben ein schönes Gesamtbild.
Review by John Coffey
A sure value. This iodized and wild side is really well done
Review by Jack M
Wife - “What is that smell?” Me - It’s a rum. Im trying a Clairin from Haiti”. Wife - “Get that away from me. It smells like a compost bin with rotten apples”😂 To the tasting: On the nose: Immediately grassy smell. Overripe bananas, melon, apples. On the palate: Musty, grassy and hot. Perhaps a little underwhelming given the complexity of the nose. Finish: Medium, solvents, musty. Overall: Great nose, and enjoyable on the palate with some very different flavours. This was my second Clairin (first being Casamir). I significantly prefer it given I felt the Casamir had quite a gone-off meaty flavour. I’m not sure I would sip my way through a bottle but I’m sure it would make great daiquiris and it is good to try.
Review by Djehey
I prefer the nose to the mouth. Let it rest a little before tasting.
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Expert reviews
5 critics scored it, averaging 8.3/10. 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 Les amis des amis du Rhum
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Expert review by Zucker und Zeste
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Expert review by The Secret Rum Bar
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Expert review by Rhummer
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Expert review by The Fat Rum Pirate
Read full review →In terms of flavour this is my favourite Clairin thus far and aside from the finish it's really quite excellent when you consider the rustic nature of how it is produced. Well worth seeking out.
Details about Velier Sonson Pierre Gilles Clairin Sonson 2018
A Clairin from Haiti, bottled by Velier, at 53,2%.
Community purchases
150 bottles logged by 137 collectors.
A drinker & collector.
31% opened, 13 emptied and repurchased.
What does Velier Sonson Pierre Gilles Clairin Sonson 2018 cost?
Community paid 33–58 €.
Current best price: 47.21 € – within 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+ →
150 purchased · 129 tasted · 47 wishlist · as of
About the Sonson Pierre Gilles distillery
The Sonson Pierre Gilles distillery is located in Haiti. Rums from Sonson Pierre Gilles have been reviewed 172 times with an average of 8.0/10.
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