Jamaica No. 16

The additional time in the cask added some more woodies to the EMB while simultaneously rounding off some edges wishing are common in most of the younger bottlings. The wood is in no way overwhelming but makes this one remarkably balanced and round. For me it cannot quite dethrone my 95 reference from Velier, but it is closer than others. I’m pleasantly surprised: top notch bottling.

Un rhum gouté au GRF en 2025. Un nez de fruits compotés et trop mûrs, intense et plein avec du bois bien intégré et une touche de menthol rafraîchissant. La bouche est ample et riche, des fruits tropicaux trop mûrs équilibrés grâce au menthol. La finale est toujours bien fruitée, puis les fruits diminuent et le bois se fait plus sentir. Un très beau Clarendon.

First impression: very tasty and smooth. Unfortunately expensive. Will have to hold its own against the Clarendon 97 from Finedrams. Many thanks to RumTaTa for the sample. Edit: RX24192 tasted together with RX16023. Both are similarly dark in color, although the Finedrams is cloudier. On the nose, the typical profile of longer matured EMBs, although the Finedrams seems a little more intense and wild to me, whereas the CoR is a little rounder and smoother. The Finedrams is a wonderful explosion of aromas on the palate with countless tropical fruits, light violets and floor wax. Can be sipped for minutes. Everlasting finish. No wonder this bottling was at the top of the 2023 awards. A phenomenal price/enjoyment ratio for the issue price. The only problem is that the bottle is almost empty and the rum is now sold out. With the CoR, the alcohol initially bites a little. However, the comparison is unfair here, as the Finedrams is almost empty. The CoR is also a firework of tropical fruits, violets and bean wax, but a little less intense, with a hint of caramel. Overall, the CoR is somewhat softer and more sedate and not as wild and boisterous as the Finedrams. The finish is also very long and beautiful here. All in all, I like the Finedrams a little better, but the CoR doesn't need to hide either. However, the price/enjoyment ratio is much better with the Finedrams.

Wieder mal ein 95er Clarendon im Glas. Ich muss zugeben er ist schon gut, aber irgendwie bin ich trotzdem übersättigt von diesem Profil. Holt mich leider nicht mehr so ab. Aus der Erinnerung raus, reiht er sich aber nahtlos in die guten anderen Abfüllungen des Jahrgangs mit ein.

#5605 Enjoyed at the Colours of Rum tasting at the German Rum Fest 2025. This is a very nice and medium intense release. Very fruity with nice ABV integration ans a very long finish. The price tag is a bit high and getting one will be a challenge.

Strong 95 EMB with the typical markers. Rather on the dark side. Nice wood with menthol and a pleasant balance with a potpourri of overripe and "gassy" tropical fruits. For me, better than the first COR bottling (edition2) and from memory in the same league as the second 95 EMB bottling from COR (edition10) ... delicious.

Messebewertung: Nase außergewöhnlich gut. Gaumen etwas schwacher, dennoch erstklassig!

Incredibly tasty and almost drinkable as it is so wonderfully fruity. A full range of tropical fruits. There are also some mint and menthol notes that complement the whole thing wonderfully. Very harmonious.

Without direct comparison, an extremely good representative of the '95 vintage with the typical mint, tannins, barrel, peach.

Mit EMB95 kann man wenig falsch machen, so auch hier. Die lange Lagerung schlägt sich in einem eher dunklen Grundcharakter nieder, ohne überholzt zu sein. Immer wieder ein Genuß.

CoR Tasting GRF 25 Erneut ein großartiger 95er Clarendon. Macht vom ersten Moment an der Nase bis zum wohligen Finish Spaß. Viel tropische Frucht, einfach Menthol. Holz ja aber nicht zuviel. Toll.

23-05-2025 Amazing Clarendon. Beats my favorit from Fine Drams