Clarendon 1995, 29 years, Jamaica edition No. 16
This 1995 Clarendon is a true heavyweight, spending a whopping 23 years maturing under the tropical sun. The EMB mark brings a unique profile - think bold, funky, and utterly captivating. On the nose, there’s a surprising hint of fresh mint, followed by rich, polished wood and a touch of earthy tobacco. Dig deeper, and you’ll find layers of overripe bananas, pineapple, and a whisper of molasses. The tropical aging has worked its magic, adding a velvety texture and a long, spicy finish.
This 1995 Clarendon is a true heavyweight, spending a whopping 23 years maturing under the tropical sun. The EMB mark brings a unique profile - think bold, funky, and utterly captivating. On the nose, there’s a surprising hint of fresh mint, followed by rich, polished wood and a touch of earthy tobacco. Dig deeper, and you’ll find layers of overripe bananas, pineapple, and a whisper of molasses. The tropical aging has worked its magic, adding a velvety texture and a long, spicy finish.
This 1995 Clarendon is a true heavyweight, spending a whopping 23 years maturing under the tropical sun. The EMB mark brings a unique profile - think bold, funky, and utterly captivating. On the nose, there’s a surprising hint of fresh mint, followed by rich, polished wood and a touch of earthy tobacco. Dig deeper, and you’ll find layers of overripe bananas, pineapple, and a whisper of molasses. The tropical aging has worked its magic, adding a velvety texture and a long, spicy finish.
Jamaica 1995 edition no. 16
Region: Jamaica
Distillery: Clarendon
Age: 29
Distillation: 07-1995
Bottled: 04-2025
Cask no: 433944
Cask type: Ex-American Oak
Still type: Pot (EMB)
Maturation: 23 years in the tropics
ABV 61.5%
Vol. 700 ml
No bottles: 148
Tasting Notes:
“23 years in the tropics, mind you! And yet it’s paler than an Americano coffee in an airport lounge. The EMB mark suggests an ester level of 250g/HLPA, which is already not half bad. Colour: tea in some airport lounge (right). Nose: stop right there! This is pretty astonishing—passion fruit, mango, both gros and petit manseng, fresh mint, elegant glues and varnishes, plus a wee touch of new tyre. And it all remains remarkably compact and fresh. With water: just beautiful! Glorious exotic fruits with a little rubber and tar, all 100% natural. Mouth (neat): of course it’s a tad aggressive, and yes, it does feel like swallowing five litres of pine sap, but at 61.5%, hardly surprising. I’d be curious to know whether the casks were topped up during ageing in Jamaica (one cask nourishing the others, etc., which the Scots don’t and can’t really do, for example). With water: let’s admit it, it’s a bit ‘woody’. That said, unless you’re allergic or intolerant to conifer saps and resins, it’s utterly beautiful. Finish: long, ultra-mentholy and resinous. Comments: the nose takes you straight to the stars, and the rest remains top-notch too.”
Note: SGP:572 - 91 points.
Source: whiskyfun.com
