Rum Symposium Amsterdam

Barbancourt Réserve Spéciale - 8 year - 43% abv. I thought after seeing some posts recently discussing the Barbancourts, with very mixed reviews, that I could give my two cents on the 8 year release. A brief background; Barbancourt is not your typical Haitian Rhum although it has been around for just over 150 years. They do use primarily fresh sugar cane juice, however small amounts of cane syrup are also added. Unlike the majority of small batch distilleries on Haiti, Ba

Velier Clairin World Championship 2017 -Sajous, Casimir, Vaval, Romelus (Le Rocher) Blend - 46% abv. I realized that I have posted reviews of all of the individual Clairins but had yet to write my impressions on the World Championship 2017 edition. Firstly a little background for those of you who are unfamiliar with this r(h)um; Clairin is r(h)um produced in Haiti from fresh pressed sugar cane, so in essence, Haitian agricole. In an effort to increase the use of Clairin

Velier Clairin Casimir - 50.2% abv. Another from the Velier line of Haitian juices. This one is green! Funky and grassy! Right from the start, it is clear that this is coming from fresh pressed sugar cane juice. The green is not like from dried hay but more like green notes you get from banana leaves used to steam dim sum. Including the slightly cardboardy-fungal notes that come with it. Definitely some sour notes going on. I’ve used this before and I think it works wel

Velier Clairin Sajous - 51% abv. After recently writing about Le Rocher as well as the Caroni Cask-aged Sajous, I might as well continue on with the Velier Clairin line of these beautiful Haitian “agricoles”. Instant recognizable vegetal funkiness that jumps out of the glass with every one of the Clairin line rhums. The green notes on this one don’t only come from grass and a barn full of baled hay, but also large amounts of lime peel as well as freshly squeezed lime ju

Velier Clairin - Le Rocher - 46.5% abv. I’m smelling this already from a meter away! It smells like baked croissants with vanilla syrup. Creamy. Buttery. Yeasty. Sweet vanilla. This is even before approaching the glass! On closer inspection (throw back to the Simpsons McBain’s loafers) this Haitian juice now has clear green grassy notes. Hay. Licorice. Play-dough. Liquid cement. Fresh bay leaf. Raisins and dried grape skin. Green olive brine. Butter-milk. This is super

New very welcome addition to my Clairin family. This bottle needed some air before it opened up. Initially there was an overpowering amount of oak on the nose, with very little fruit coming through. With time though, the oak calmed down and the citrus peel and cut green grass that is Sajous shines through. Now with hints of vanilla, cream, and the ever so slight lick of spilled oil and rubber. Not like one would expect at a car shop, more like a bike shop with old tires