Clarendon 22 year 2000 Rum Sponge (refill rum barrel, 44.3%)
N: such a beautiful mix of fruity-funky esters and maritime character. Seaweed washed up on the beech, capers, Meyer lemon, sandalwood, brine, the exterior of a pineapple…so delicate but so aromatic
P: beautifully coastal, sunny without heat or excessive ripeness, the aromatics but not the juice of pineapple, joined by some orchard fruit here (pickled apple? Is that a thing?), along with some pepper and, I dunno, dried ginger? An interesting spirit in that the alcohol is quite low and it’s not almost gulpable, but it doesn’t feel weak or watery; it drinks almost more like a strong wine than a weak spirit. Very light wood influence for a 22 year spirit, definitely more like a mild spice than anything “oaky” or tannic. I almost never pair spirits with food but this does seem like one you could drink with fried scallops or something
Way up my alley. Give me all the old, minimally oaked, coastal rums…
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