Clarendon 2004 17YO Bottled by Precious Liquors for Bar Lamp Ginza, Tokyo

Distillery: Clarendon

Distilled: 2004

Bottled: 2021

Bottler: Precious Liquors

Distillation: Pot Still

Spirit Marque: MMW

Aging: 14 years in Jamaica and 3 in UK

Bottles: 299

Cask: 433887

ABV: 57,1%

Volume: 700 ml

Bottling info:

This Clarendon was distilled in September 2004 and it has been through 14 years of tropical aging and 3 years further in Scotland. This edition was selected by Precious Liquors and Rudder Ltd. To be exclusively bottled for Bar Lamp, Ginza, Tokyo.

Tasting note:

Nose: much more varnish and solvents. A little acetone while also showing marzipan, bananas and green olives. Pears and citrus zest too. A little wood spice, liquorice and light petrol. Far less focused than the 1999, which means more complex.

Mouth: sweeter now, with a lot of anise, red apple and orange peel. Mentholated notes too, as well as light mocha. Hints of butter toffee in the background. Some saline notes and herbal potions, but less pungent than the nose suggested. Hints of leather in the end.

Finish: quite long, on spicy wood, mint, ginseng and dried herbs. 

A fun bottling, balancing sharper notes with a sweeter side. Overall perhaps a little rougher than the others. Score: 86/100

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