Fine Drams New Yarmouth Old Jamaican Rum (Aficionados) NYE 1994 26yr 68,5%

"Comparatively bitter New Yarmouth 1994, which shows the typical sweetness DNA, but in addition already shows clear aging characteristics. The barrel has worked and, in addition to the obligatory vanilla, toffee and coconut notes, also bitter wood influences and tart leather notes flow in. However, all this remains within absolutely tolerable limits; in fact, I don't dislike these rough edges, the quaffable sweetness gets a clear counterpoint. Beautiful selection."

"The following 94 New Yarmouths were in the blind tasting glass The preliminary result 1ST RX10164 2. RX12050 3. RX12183 4. RX10531 5. RX16026 6. RX10419 7. RX13113 8. RX10167 9. RX15643 10. RX10204 11. RX12556 12. RX12841 13. RX9617 14. RX1563 15. RX16027 16. RX12161 17. RX13824 18. RX6983 In my blind tasting of 5 different NY '94s, this one was in 5th place. A detailed report will follow in the individual tasting."

"A nose of sweetness, caramel, dried fruit and lots of tropical fruit. Slightly bitter and acidic on the palate, but elegantly fruity. The finish develops a fairly strong astringency and noble bitterness. This rum has a marked but far from interesting wood history. The empty glass is reminiscent of an old church, with varnished wood, light smoke and incense."

"Ein kleines Cross-Tasting mit den beiden Fine Drams und dem FRC Village. Alle drei benötigen zunächst viel Zeit im Glas, bis sie sich öffnen. Alle drei sind sehr gute 94er NY, stoßen aber nicht in die Spitze hinein. Benchmark bleibt für mich hier der RA! Der Fine Dram mit 68,5% ist hier der Gewinner. Trotz des hohen Alkoholgehaltes kommt er sehr angenehm cremig daher. Die Nase ist recht verhalten, aber am Gaumen zeigt er sein Potenzial, da dominiert er (auch wenn das Fass deutlich spürbar ist). Für mich am heutigen Abend der stimmigste NY. Als zweites folgt der FRC. Die Süße des Sheery-Finishs ist deutlich wahrnehmbar, aber passt noch so eben. Der Dritte ist der Fine Dram mit 68%. Er ist sehr brachial und nicht ganz so ausgewogen. Zusammengefasst sind es durchwegs sehr gute Abfüllungen"

"A brute tropical aged rum. For me, he wants too much with the head through the wall. In the process, subtleties fall by the wayside. Within the tasted trio (see photo) he occupies the respectable third place. I really would not have expected."

"87 points. A rather classic 94 New Yarmouth with all the classic aromas and flavours of the vintage present. 68.5 % ABV are rather well integrated. A big plus is the 35cl bottle. I would love to see more of these in the future. We had a cigar get together and a rum novice was present, out of The Last, a 1991 Enmore and the NY this one was his favourite 😂"

"Tasted against the sister bottling with 68% This one stands out quite slightly more but also seems to me minimally more diverse. Good rum, but no exception 94er - PLV is but top and thus uneingeschrenkt to recommend."

"Im direkten Vergleich mit der Schwester-Fass Abfüllung nehme ich hier mehr fruchtige Aromen wahr, besonders getr. Feige. Insgesamt ziemlich rund und der Alkohol ist auch sehr gut integriert. Für mich einer der besseren 1994er NY mit super PLV."

"More complex and layered NY compared to the Fine Dram sister, but same outstanding DNA. Ticks all the boxes of a great old Jamaican, wonderful! //update: this one was the winner tonight compared to the sister cask"

"Now the beautiful, old, tropically matured NY. Will please me. Nose: clear, also here the 68.5% demand neat. Now my nose had already smelled itself in a bit and the fruity-sweet aromas quickly close up. First there's coconut, accompanied by papaya and passion fruit. Right behind that, vanilla, lots of cream toffee and oak. Very nice, intense and, aside from the high ABV, unobtrusive. 8,9 Palate: oh nice, different than expected. Clear, powerful and intense, but mainly spicy-soapy, with violets. Kind of creamy, dark chocolate with gingerbread. Coconut in addition. All accompanied by a slight bitter note. Fits together wonderfully, though. On the finish, the soapy impression remains accompanied by coconut, umami and chocolate. 9,1 What challenges me, what keeps me busy longer and what then still tastes deserves good points."

"Exzellenter NY94!"

"This rum surprised me a little bit since I haven’t had much experience with New Yarmouth and wasn’t sure what to expect. I found far less fruit on this than many others seemed to experience. For me this was woody and sweet, vanilla and spice. There were hints of dark and dried fruit lurking behind the big wood and brown sugar sweetness. All in all, this felt like a very smooth, well aged and high proof version of the kind of sweet aged rums I ‘used to like’ but which today I would find uninteresting. This was far better though and as such was nice to drink and oddly nostalgic."

"A very good rum, of the two New Yarmouths bottled by Aficionados x Fine Drams I prefer it to the other 94. This one definitely has a very good nose and great character although the palate comes across as not very "tame" at times. It is a bit too strong and overpowering. However in any case it is a complex drink but one to be made."

"Nose: wood, tropical fruits, vanilla, caramell Palate: woody, coconut, fruits, vanilla Long finish and alcohol is well integrated."