Papalin 4 Year (2017) Haiti – The Auditor Reviews

Review #1040; Rum #368

Papalin 4 year Haiti (2017)

Papalin is a project from Velier that is dedicated to blended rums. With this project Velier, who purports themselves as a “tropical dependent bottler” works in tandem with the distilleries to craft these blended products where the ageing takes place on their site. Previously in this line they did a Papalin Jamaica which was a collaboration between Hampden Estate and Worthy Park.

This release, Paplin Haiti, is a blend of 4 different Clairin’s from 2017 (Sajous, Vaval, Casimir, and Le Rocher). The Clairin are blended with a rum from Cane Syrup (Providence). Then this blend is aged in a variety of casks including Ex-Caroni, Mount Gay, Buffalo Trace, and Cognac casks. After 4 years of ageing in Haiti this rum was bottled at cask strength with no additives.

ABV: 53.1%

Nose: Lemon Zest, Brine, faint glue, passionfruit, Toasted Brown Sugar, slight oil, Green Apple, banana, figs, Floral

Palate: Medium oily mouthfeel, Lemon Zest, Brine, Glue, slight oil, Green Apple, Banana, Figs, minerality, Black Tea, Blueberry

Finish: Medium length finish, Brine, Glue, Oil, Green Apple, Lemon Zest, figs, Minerality, Cacao, Black Tea, Blueberry

Rating: 7/10

There is a lot going on here, but it all meshes together for me. Each time you come in for a drink you can something different, a bit of fruit notes from what I presume is the Cognac casks, heavy brine and minerality, glue, a bit of oil, Green apple. It all works well together and really forces you to pay attention. Howevr, the Vieux Sajous that Astor has for sale is a notch above this for me.

Other Reviews of this Rum:

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average