This 1995 vintage Clarendon, aged for 27 years in the tropics, is an ultra-limited bottling, a collaborative effort between Rhum Attitude, Distillia, and the legendary Bar Lamp Ginza Tokyo. It was bottled at cask strength.
Découvrez la note de Serge Valentin sur son blog whiskyfun (90/100)
Florian Prost's tasting notes from our Brussels store
The nose is rich, deep and intensely oily. Dried tropical fruits: mango, candied nectarine, lemon zest are expressed with elegance.
For a very old Clarendon, this is clearly a more subdued Jamaican style: less funky and less esterized than a Hampden, with remarkable aromatic maturity. A luscious hint of licorice emerges, lifted by a menthol freshness and a touch of eucalyptus.
The palate is full, smooth, and perfectly balanced. The natural concentration of a cask-strength single cask, aged for 27 years in ex-bourbon barrels, creates a superb texture. Candied fruit dominates, supported by a solid structure and spicy depth. Licorice adds dimension, while the aromatic menthol freshness balances the whole with finesse.
The finish is long, bold, and captivating. Dried fruit lingers on a noble oak base, joined by an almost ethereal freshness. A finish that confirms the exceptional profile and elegance of a masterfully aged Clarendon.
