Clairin Ansyens Assemble: Vaval in ex-Caroni and ex-Bielle, Casimir in ex-Cognac, Sajous in Oloroso

Even in the ocean of value that currently constitutes unaged rum, Haiti's clairins stand out. Each one I've had over the years has been just a bit different from the others in terms of how they're made and how they come out, but they've always been wild-fermented, pot-distilled, and hugely characterful. And that's sometimes made me wonder why its leading importers at Velier wanted to age the stuff - I mean, why bury all that character in oak? And indeed, my earlier reviews of clairin ansyen (see    • Clairins Casimir and Vaval, Aged and Not   and    • Clairin Ansyen Casimir, Aged 22 Months (20...   ) seemed to confirm that suspicion: the examples were good, just not as good as the unaged stuff. Even the really, really good aged clairins (see    • Rum Sample Grab Bag: Cañada, HV Privateer ...   ) still weren't quite on par with their cheaper and less oaky counterparts.

But those early barrels are getting older, which means they may now be pulling themselves out of the "ditch" that comes with a spirit's first few years in cask. Still more, the casks being released are starting to get weirder - less ex-bourbon (which wasn't really doing it for me), more rum and brandy and (heaven help us) sherry. So it seemed like it was a good time for a roundup, hitting the original three Velier clairins in different single casks. Here we go:

Clairin Vaval Ansyen, Cask No. VA17CR-3 "Cask Stevens" for BC Merchants (from Distillery Arawaks in Cavaillon, Haiti; wild fermented and pot-distilled from Madam Meuze cane juice by master distiller Fritz Vaval; aged 23 months, 12/1/18-11/20, in ex-Caroni rum cask; 46% ABV), 86/100
Clairin Vaval Ansyen, Cask No. VV17BI-2 for Aficionados/Seelbachs (from Distillery Arawaks in Cavaillon, Haiti; wild fermented and pot-distilled from Madam Meuze cane juice by master distiller Fritz Vaval; aged 38 months, 9/14/17-11/20, in ex-Bielle rum cask; 46.8% ABV), 88+/100
Clairin Casimir Ansyen, Cask No. CA16FF for Aficionados/Seelbachs (from Distillery Douglas Casimir in Barradères, Haiti; wild fermented and pot-distilled from Hawaii cane juice by master distiller Faubert Casimir; aged 41 months, 6/26/17-11/20, in ex-Cognac cask; 52.7% ABV), 87+/100
Clairin Sajous Ansyen, Cask No. SA17OL-5 for Kate Perry/Velier (from Distillery Chelo in Saint Michel de L'Attalaye, Haiti; wild fermented and pot-distilled from cristalline cane juice by master distiller Michel Sajous; aged 29 months, 11/30/17-4/20, in ex-Lustau oloroso sherry cask; 56.4% ABV), 87/100

The ex-Bielle Vaval is not only magnificent and the winner of the episode, it's also a milestone: the first clairin I've ever liked as much as the unaged version (regular Vaval '17 also scored an 88+ way back at    • Clairin Vaval (Distillery Arawaks) 2017 re...   ). The younger ex-Caroni one ain't too bad either, a cinnamon/citrus bomb that's basically a ready-to-drink hot toddy. Meanwhile the Casimir in ex-yak is one of the most complex spirits I've had in years, and even if I think it can't quite hold that mass of different flavors together it's still worth it just to go along for the ride.

And the sherried Sajous? Well, have you been looking for something to scratch your Caroni itch, but Caroni itself just isn't quite brutal enough...?

Extra special thanks to my Different Spirits on Patreon (  / differentspirits  ) -

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