Velier Clarendon Alex Webb Edition MBS 2014

Velier bottled this single distillery Clarendon, distilled in 2014 from the Monymusk side of the operation and labelled Clarendon after the Monymusk name was withdrawn. Clarendon runs both pot and column, and this release leans toward the rounder, more polished end of the house rather than its most explosive marques.

Matured ten years in ex-bourbon casks under tropical conditions, it offers roasted caramel, brown sugar and coffee alongside citrus and gentle overripe fruit, with the wood giving honeyed depth on the finish. Bottled at 60% and certified unsweetened, it carries cask strength weight without the brute funk of a Hampden DOK, which makes it a sensible step up for drinkers moving from softer rums into the stronger Jamaican world. The transparency and full proof are the draw, fruit and oak in easy balance.