Colour: Copper.
Nose: Uh the kind of Demerara profile I use to like with some little similarities with the 2003 I enjoyed so much. That’s complex with a nice strength for this ABV, everything surrounded by a pleasant freshness. Overcooked caramel, cocoa, buttered buns, latte macchiato, wood, almonds, grapefruits, blood orange, roasted coconuts and dark chocolate.
Mouth: Nice oily texture, that’s smooth with a nice alcohol integration. It has a strong aromatic strength with the same freshness we had in the nose. Dark Demerara aromas leads the way, creamy caramel, burnt wood, cocoa, licorice, expresso, butter, cola, I love it. Then we have white pepper, blood oranges and ginger. Every flavours matches properly, that’s classy, another easy sipper alert.
Finish: Mid-long and bitterish. Coffee beans, dry wood, bitter cocoa, cola, caramel and almonds.

It seems that I just tasted the big brother of the Diamond 15yo I was talking about, it’s more refined with more maturity. Maybe slightly more bitter but anyway that’s exactly what I’m waiting from a Dark Demerara, good job!

Score: 92

Colour: Copper.
Nose: Hmmm fruity ’96 here you are. Of course we have the typical Caroni aromas such as rubber, tyres, leather and fuel, but they stand back those exotic fruits. Ripe pineapples, mangoes, passion fruits, lemons, grapefruits, peppermint, cherry pie and camphor. Well balanced interesting nose.
Mouth: The texture is a bit more fluid than the Diamond ’96 but it remains decent. Roasted pineapples, mangoes, passion fruits, coconuts, fuel, leather, rubber, green apples, tobacco, chilies and wood. Well balanced mouth, that’s fruity but not as much as this fantastic nose suggested.
Finish: Mid-long and warm. Vanilla, peppermint, burnt wood, floral notes and caramelized pineapples.

Quite frustrating mouth after this nose, but it doesn’t mean that’s bad at all, overall a great Caroni without any doubt.

Score: 88

Colour: Light copper.
Nose: We’re grinding the watts! Fruity and (slightly too) bitter in the same time. It’s close to some 1995/1997 Monymusk/Clarendon I already tasted in some way. Quinces, mangoes, black grapes, leather, fuel, camphor, cherries, eucalyptus freshness, noble wood, pineapples, litchis, blackcurrant and blackberry jam.
Mouth: The texture is a bit too fluid as well. I’m not surprised that’s as refined as the two other bottlings of the day. Very pleasant concentrated mouth with less bitterness than the nose. Peppermint, eucalyptus candies, wood, tannins, black and blue berries, quinces, white pepper, cardamom, green apples and black grapes. A kind of forest walk I mean.
Finish: Long-enough and slightly bitterish. Forest berries, floral notes, peppermint and fuel.

Another great Clarendon oldie, with the opposite statement as the Caroni, I clearly preferred the mouth to the nose.

Score: 88