Fine Drams Clarendon Fine Old Jamaican Rum (Aficionados) EMB 1995 27yr 68,3%

"It is already apparent on the nose, but on the palate it is finally clear: this is a top representative from the 1995 Clarendon vintage. Fully ripe tropical fruit, mint, wood, even the age is recognizable - in a positive sense. Very complex, yet round, fresh, yet heavy - the EMB profile of the 1995 vintage is definitely one of the best of the EMB profile and also sets benchmarks for Jamaican releases in general. This rum is further proof of this - only the alcohol integration is not quite on a par with its sister releases. Nevertheless, an exquisite release."

"The two Fine Drams Clarendons are THE 2023 releases for me. This 95 bottling does exceptionally well in EMB crosstasting. Prima PLV."

"RumX Awards 2023. The color is dark and marks 28 years of age. The nose is very fruity, with overripe fruit including pineapple, lime, a hint of encoustic and young woodiness and a light Cementite glue. The palate is rather sweet given the 68.3%, with a basket of fruit that invades the palate, mirabelle plum, carambola, mango and plum. There's acidity and honey, and a lovely, discreet freshness to back it all up. The finish is beautiful, long and complex, with lime, herbs and woody bitterness. A very fine rum, and a favorite for its evolutivity and complexity, with so much fruit that I can hardly define it."

"The 95 is a more woody profile than the 97, more greedy but less fruity. With aeration, it becomes more and more supple and pleasant. Noble wood, licorice and vanilla supported behind by some very ripe tropical fruits. Great depth. I love it. The mouth is of the same level, it is a very great rum. I find that a well done reduction towards 60/62% would have made it a bit more accessible. But it's a wonderful product, at a great price. I'm glad I picked up a bottle for myself!"

"This is also an outstanding representative of the 95 vintage! Not quite as strong as the 97, but real top class! Altogether a little stronger and more demanding, definitely not a rum for beginners! It lacks the good alcohol integration, otherwise it would have deserved a few more points"

"I like it even better than the 97. Really intense after passion fruit, lime and other tropical fruits, lots of menthol, violets and vanilla pulp, as well as the typical for emb slightly meaty bacon note. Really cool."

"Super good EMB 1995, but for me a bit behind the RA 1995 EMB."

"Very good Clarendon. Tried on vacation...there it tastes even better 😎"

"Oh yes, I am thrilled to the max with this old tropical aged EMB. Nose: incredibly intense and voluminous, complex and dense. Very tasty! Lots of tropical fruit, pleasant wood, nicely spicy while still fresh and with wonderfully integrated high ABV. First, intense lemon and lime with orange zest and passion fruit and papaya. Light pineapple and distinct gooseberry come in. Besides that, floral with violets. The freshness comes not only from the lemon, but also from a light mint note. The fruit is capped by restrained esters and the associated fine vinegar essence, which also goes in the direction of polish. Fragrant cherry wood with neat vanilla and some black pepper round out the picture. Fantastic. 9.3 Palate: the nose continues consistently full-bodied and delicious on the palate. Again, that intense fruit with lime, passion fruit and pineapple. Here now also more intense mint with even more violet, which brings a clear association towards soap. Out the back stronger flavors of toasted barrel, vanilla, slightly bacony with salt. Eerily beautiful. 9.1 This '95 EMB is totally coherent. Makes a decent impression even after half an hour in the glass and is just delicious."

"The FD 95 in comparison with the Sponge and FD 97. The profile of the two 97s is definitely different from the 95. The 95 waits with a passion fruit note, and goes a little more in the direction of vanilla. But also on the 95, decent bean wax, overripe, tropical fruit (mango), barrel. On the palate rubber, barrel, passion fruit. Black tea on the finish. I like it at least as much as the 97."

"Probably the best Clarendon I've had so far!"

"Alcohol very well integrated! For an EMB95 very round!"

"This one is simply not for me as much as I wanted to love this. The nose was wonderful and I had extremely high hopes for this one after nosing for quite some time. It offered fruits, sweetness, wood, vanilla, hints of passion fruit and some mint, without anything being too overpowering. The palate, on the other hand, was simply too dry, bitter, intense and wood and spice forward for me. There is fruit behind it but this does not strike me as being in balance - the upfront intensity and bitterness dominates even when the fruit makes an appearance. You can also feel every bit of the 68% ABV despite its age. Nice length on this one for sure, it lingers and stays with you but largely as a byproduct of the intensity that this one carries."