First Impressions
Rum Sponge, from Decadent Drinks, has built a following for their carefully selected indie bottlings. Edition 25 features Clarendon's distinctive Jamaican distillate — a blend of two barrels, a 2013 first fill and a 2011 refill, married into a single 10-year-old expression at 57.1% ABV.
Tasting
The nose is estery and tropical. Overripe banana and mango lead, with a refined sweetness that distinguishes this from more aggressive high-ester Jamaicans. Vanilla and warm oak provide support and maturity.
The palate is fruity and complex. Tropical esters provide the personality, with a refined sweetness that's more elegant than funky. Oak spice adds warmth, vanilla smooths things out, and the Jamaican character is lively and engaging. At 57.1%, it carries weight without harshness.
The finish is medium-long with tropical fruit esters, oak, and a clean Jamaican close.
The Bottom Line
At £83.75, Clarendon Rum Sponge Edition 25 delivers genuine Jamaican quality at a fair price for a cask strength, independently bottled rum. The blend of two barrels adds complexity, and the Decadent Drinks selection is reliable as always.
