Clairin Vaval is produced in the coastal village of Cavaillon in the southeast of Haiti.
Profile: Fresh and balanced.
Abv: 49.3%
Nose: Heady and pulpy. Olive, brine, fresh papaya,
mango, wet slate.
Palate: Smooth and flavorful. Green banana, anise,
salt air, raw root vegetable, ripe plums.
Finish: Wide and gentle. Rich coastal air, beachy
minerals.
Cane variety: Madame Meuze
Raw material: Sugar cane juice
Location: Southeast Haiti, Cavaillon
Terroir: Coastal
Here, Fritz Vaval runs the Distillerie Arawaks which has been owned by his family since 1947.
Fritz owns 20 hectares of land planted with the Madame Meuze cane variety, cultivated naturally, without the use if chemical fertilisers or pesticides. Clairin Vaval is produced from pure sugar cane juice fermented naturally with wild yeasts and distilled on a small pot still that Fritz made himself, powered by the steam engine of an old locomotive.
Clairin Vaval tastes of its region, with aromatics of salty sea air, beach sand, and rich botanicals.
Distillery Arawaks was built after the second war by Fritz's father, Danois Vaval in the southern village of Cavaillon. Today Fritz has 20 hectares of the sugarcane variety called Madame Meuze, grownnaturally without the addition of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The cane is cut by machete andtransported by mule to be pressed in a small mill.
Wild fermentation lasts around 5 days without adding water or artificial substances. The distillate is made ina unique pot still that is very different from any other because Fritz built it himself. His still is unusual in that it is powered by steam, produced by a steam engine of an old locomotive train, powered fueled by burning bagasse. Two distillations are done per day, eachlasting around 10 hours and coming off the still at 45%to 55% ABV.