Mezan Clarendon 2007

Bottled by Mezan, this is a twelve year old Clarendon distilled in 2007. Mezan favours an unhurried, additive free style, and this Clarendon shows the estate's funkier pot still character at a sessionable strength rather than the cask strength intensity common to the marque.

Matured in ex-bourbon and bottled at 46 percent, it leans into ester and solvent, pineapple, marzipan and a custardy edge over a dry body that lacks much richness. The funk runs from nose to finish, with pineapple and a touch of ginger, and a slightly austere, acetone driven character that divides opinion. Certified unsweetened, it works as an honest, well marked Jamaican introduction, though drinkers chasing depth and sweetness may find it dry and solvent heavy.