Velier Arawaks Clairin Ansyen Vaval (The Nectar) 2016

In taste and aroma it reminds me of Jamaica, but there are not many grassy notes.

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.

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?

A beautifully spicy clairin that doesn't really show the Caroni finish.

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.