Aroma visualization from community tastings
Clarendon Rum Sponge No. 20 1997
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Here's the surprise: at 63% this is far tamer than the number suggests — tasters say you barely feel the alcohol. The nose fires off glue, ripe mango and pineapple, then the palate turns oily and soft with menthol, leather and dark chocolate bitterness. Give it air and a drop of water and the tropical fruit blooms. Even Clarendon skeptics kept coming around. One caveat: it needs patience and it's very limited.
The community says- Deep tropical fruit
- Alcohol well hidden
- Long, complex finish
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The look inside the bottle
How does Clarendon Rum Sponge No. 20 1997 taste?
Aggregated from 49 community reviews.
Oily, tropical old Clarendon with buried heat Loved almost across the board — a rich, tropical 1997 Clarendon with well-buried alcohol and endless finish. A few felt the wood or bitterness edged over, and the steep price came up often.
Experienced Jamaica fans who chase tropical-aged EMB Clarendon
Beginners, and anyone put off by heavy wood and glue-ester intensity
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
21 of 49 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
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How is Clarendon Rum Sponge No. 20 1997 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 9.1 sits in the “Excellent” band. 100% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Community voices
What does the community say?
98% rate it 8 or higher. 28 selected write-ups from 49 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Mirco
Most helpful positive review
wow, amazing! Sensational 1997 Clarendon. Definitely plays in the top league of bottlers. Well integrated alcohol with an insane complexity. Menthol, mint, peach notes that I really like here. Super balanced.
Review by Johnny Rumcask
Most helpful mixed review
The nose immediately announces Jamaica: fruit esters, glue. This continues on the palate. Alcohol could be better integrated, the rum needs a lot of time to breathe. Certainly one of the better EMB representatives, but not my taste profile.
Review by cigares
A rum tasted at the WLP. A generous nose with lots of fruit, tropical and yellow with a slight acidity. Smokiness, varnished wood and pear cake. The palate opens on a peppery note, but the fruit rises in power with noble wood. The finish is, like this rum as a whole, balanced, long with a noble bitterness. The empty glass reveals even more flavors. Tasted again in direct comparison with the RA 1995 EMB and it's utterly delicious, even if it's livelier with more pronounced fruit.
Review by Gunnar Böhme "Bauerngaumen" 🤓
Warming up for what will probably be an extended tasting in the evening. I took more time for this rum, it deserves it. Nose: Very restrained, alcohol barely noticeable, aromas but also only light, some menthol, subtle glue, a hint of dried wallpaper paste, later a little more fruity, alternating between not very ripe yellow and red fruits, but still olfactorily restrained Palate: Again some menthol, but from a rather bitter minty herb (would have blindly guessed an older T.D.L), clearly long tropical storage, you can literally feel the old wooden barrel, properly astringent, but spreads evenly in the mouth, especially in the middle section audrucksstarker tap dance on the tongue; fat, sluggish streaks drawing in the glass Overall impression: Powerful rum from the EMB Champions League, particularly convincing on the palate, which would only just have to admit defeat in the final against the EMB from Fine Drams (RX16023) due to a slightly less consistent pull towards the goal (i.e. slightly less intensity).
Review by Joachim Guger
Caramel and banana bread. Restrained polish and spices. Again, exemplary wood maturity. Warm, powerful. Perfectly balanced and - as the French would say - molten. Great mouthfeel!!! Funky. Long and very good finish. A highlight! Much rounder compared to the Fine Drams, more focus on caramel and banana bread. More drinkable, but also much more expensive. Not good for the wallet.😀 Beautiful label! Thanks to Bonn for this great sample!!🙏
Review by RumTaTa
Tasted in direct comparison with the Fine Spirits Clarendon 23 (RX16023).Blind I could probably not distinguish the two. The FD seems to me a touch funkiger and the Sponge by nuances milder and fruity in the nose.On the palate the same: very great similarity, as well as in the aftertaste. Nice that two excellent 97 Clarendons appear here. The Sponge gets one point less because of the worse P / L ratio and because the FD has a super practical bottle size.
Review by Adrian Wahl
Was für ein Gerät! Das ist mit das beste was ich bin Clarendon jemals probiert habe. Absolute Granate. Getestet gegen den Fine Drams Clarendon 1997. Nicht ganz billig, aber eine ausgezeichnete Abfüllung. 91/100
Review by TheRhumhoe
Un Clarendon qui a fait sensation à sa sortie, et on comprend mieux pourquoi : le nez est riche, intense et très parfumé, avec les fruits exotiques et les épices de prime abord, avant que les notes médicinales (colle, polish, légers solvants) florales (lavande) et l’encens ne viennent apporter une fraîcheur bienvenue. Le profil est ouvert, complexe et élégant. L’attaque en bouche est puissante et assez complexe. On part sur une attaque fruitée, suivie de près par une vague d’amertume sur le cuir, le boisé et le végétal. Des notes de caoutchouc, de colle et de polish sur un fond médicinal renforcent cette impression de puissance, agrémentée par des épices virulentes (anis, réglisse, piment). L’alcool est présent mais reste bien intégré. La finale est amère, longue et chaude sur ce profil très épicé, aromatique et versatile, sur le côté végétal, fruité, sombre et cacaoté. Un Clarendon qui réussit à tirer partie des arômes et du fût (malgré un très long séjour sous climat tropical) pour en extirper le meilleur et proposer un jus intense, profond et élégant. Comparé au Clarendon 1997 de chez Fine Drams, il semble plus accessible au nez mais un peu plus âpre en bouche. Le prix est également élevé, en particulier si on rapporte les deux embouteillages, mais la qualité du jus est indéniable : 1997 semble être une année de référence pour Clarendon.
Review by Dr.Django
Yes! Der ist super. Werde den noch mit den Fine Drams vergleichen müssen. Monymusk 1997 liefert wieder! Ein tolles Mundgefühl mit Klebstoff, allerlei Früchten und Zartbitterschokolade. Angenehm holzig, liegt schwer am Gaumen und ist "dunkelfruchtig-schokoladig" adstringierend, dazu ein traumhafter langer Abgang.
Review by SaibotZtar
Tolle Nase mit Papaya Ananas Grüne Banane Mango Honigmelone und Olive auch ne Ladung Ester ist dabei .... etwas Rauch und Kräuternoten. Im Mund sehr ausgewogen Fruchtig, die Kräuternoten kommen hier nochmal besonders zur Geltung sehr stimmig und lecker .
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
#4374 22.10.2023 Whisky Live 2023 One i forgot to add from this event ☺️
Review by Thunderbird
Das ist ein absoluter Genuss! Ölig und weich verteilt er sich am Gaumen, nachdem er zuvor die Nase mit kräftigem Klebstoff und schwerer Frucht verwöhnt hat. Der Abgang ist pflanzlich fruchtig und mittellang! Einer der besten Clarendon die ich im Glas hatte
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
A great piece! Guava, mango & red berries meet leather, menthol, as well as vanilla and allspice and a little lavender. Really nice thing with an almost eternal finish. I like it surprisingly well, although I'm not usually a Clarendon fan!
Review by Jarek
Wow! Great cinema! Something new on the nose every time, you can't stop. The palate is just as complex and then a long, spicy, roasted finish. Also lots of wood, but without excess. Too bad I missed this one. Addendum August 2025: I was able to get hold of at least one remainder in a bottle that had been open for some time. Compared to a freshly bottled sample (as far as I can remember), the sticky notes are somewhat weaker. Instead, the menthol note comes through more strongly. Still a brilliant drop. Where else to get it from...? 😢
Review by Rodolphe
😍😍 what a killer! Perfect balance between the greediness of the barrel and the tropical fruits! An enchanting nose. On the palate, it's very fruity, we find the slightly fermented fruits typical of Clarendon but without being sickening as it is sometimes the case. I also find the touch of almond. It's super balanced, really great. Another bottle from sponge that is really good! It's becoming usual.
Review by mto75
the Sponge in direct comparison with the Fine Drams. Both mega intense and complex, with overripe fruit (overripe mango), rubber, floor wax, vanillle, old barrel...the FD goes a little more in the direction of sweet and sour mango chutney, the Sponge is a little rounder and sweeter (tropical fruit salad). The palate is both super intense as well, with rubber, bicycle inner tube, barrel, overripe tropical fruit, the finish is long with black tea and barrel / tannins. With its lower ABV, the Sponge seems a wwnig more approachable. Bottom line, though, I can't come up with a clear winner. Both top notch!
Review by Serge
Wahnsinnig toller, tropisch gereifter EMB mit wunderbar fruchtiger Nase zusätzlich zu den EMB Merkmalen. Sehr ähnlich zum Fine Drams und eine Spur vorne … dafür beim PLV auf Platz zwei 😂
Review by Piotr Ignasiak
Very well balanced, dense in moutfeel. For me it benefited greatly with longer airing, as well as some drops of water, then it hit a great balance, with more fruitiness released bedsides just dark chocolate bitterness. It becomes a very elegant and complex sipper. I'm saying this while acknowledging that Clarendon profile has not been my favorite thus far.
Review by Godspeed
Good Clarendon with excellent stats but not worth the steep price tag.
Review by Oliver
Excellent Clarendon!
Review by Buddudharma
Perfekt ausbalanciertes, intensives Profil, das keinerlei Wünsche offen lässt. Geiler Stoff! Edit: Muss hier nach mehrfacher Verkostung nochmal einen Punkt hochgehen. Für mich der König der 97er EMBs.
Review by passlemix
Ça sent la souris comme dirait un amateur de vin naturel quand le vin s'y prête. Mon premier 9x donc un petit événement pour moi. Au nez c'est lourd et complexe. Ça sent le fruit mais comme écrasé au fond de la calle d'un vieux gréement. Flash de mirabelle divin. Beaucoup de bois humide. Nécessite un peu de temps pour s'exprimer pleinement. A côté la colle Cléopâtre ne pèse pas bien lourd. Des effluves de fruits rouges et bubble gum par moment. Un nez de grande classe. En bouche c'est riche également : charlotte au poires, poivre, menthol, fruits en tous genre. La finale est très agréable mais aurait pu être encore plus longue même si on est déjà vraiment pas mal, c'est vraiment histoire de lui trouver un petit défaut.
Review by Mentalo
Herausrager Claredon. Selbst der Alkohol ist für Clarendon Verhältnisse gut eingebunden. Die einzelne Geschmacksnoten harmonieren wird super. Angenehme Süße, sehr fruchtig, angenehme Holznote, Menthol. Die Kombination muss man mögen, aber wenn man es mag, dann liefert die Abfüllung von Rumsponge ab.
Review by kclo
Simply beautiful, a masterpiece nose to finish
Review by kargoles
Ce rhum très prometteur en nez malgré le profil alcohol qui reste présent. Des fruit tropicaux légèrement acidulés, sucré rafiné. En bouche un profil plus épicé et mentholé arrive sur l’ananas acidulé, un boisé délicat (qui n’est pas à mon goût) prend le dessus. Une finale moyenne mentholée et poivrée qui part sur l’amertume à cause du bois. En bref un jamaïcain interessant même si pas dans mes goût à cause du bois trop marqué
Review by Michal S
Exceptional rum, rich in aroma (papaya, pineapple, lavender) and taste (tropical fruit, leather, menthol), all in perfect harmony, perfectly integrated alcohol. Recommended.
Review by jems5
Nose of caramelized pear, pepper and nutmeg Medium attack, damp wood, very smoky Finish on ash with a hint of bitterness
Review by Tendero Pablo
Magnificent selection ....un profile more fruity than usual ...but a perfect year for Clarendon..I would even say the benchmark year.
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Expert reviews
Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..
Expert review by Rob Bauer
After the Monymusk Velier 1997 For Begnoni, this is the only 1997 Mony on the market so far. Almost completely tropically matured (22 years). With Clarendon / Monymusk is different from Hampden and Long Pond in my experience always: Tropical >>> Continental.On the part I was particularly looking forward! Also find the cubist, Braque-like label very successful! In the nose explodes first the glue! Almost already uitvlugtisch. Uhu, Pattex and tropical fruits, mainly mangos and pineapple, fire from all pipes. Really, really cool. After a while in the glass, light floral notes also come through, lavender first and foremost, which is typical old EMBs for me. But only very lightly. Dark chocolate and cedar notes. Warm coconut oil. But you also find a bit of overcooked strawberry jam and that Guadeloupe incense note you really only find in old Montebellos and Gardels. You have to give the bouquet time though. Fantastic bouquet.On the palate, a fantastic heavy sweetness and chocolate bitterness combine with the fine Jamaica acidity of the tropical fruits to create a wave of flavors that floods the entire mouth. Escape is futile! But in such a thing one drowns very gladly. While some 1995 EMB representatives can easily slip into the too woody, the wood is perfectly integrated here. The same goes for the alcohol. The 63% is hardly noticeable! With 22 years of tropical aging, the finish is naturally eternal. Conclusion: This is in no way inferior to the Velier representative. It's no secret that I'm an absolute Monymusk EMB fan, and prefer tropically aged Monymusks due to their heaviness and fatness, for example, almost all Hampdens when it comes to modern Jamaica rum (caution, subjective matter of taste!). This bottling plays directly times right up in the Jamaica Champions League and gets a whopping 92/100 points. Chapeau to Angus MacRaild for that cask pick!
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Market value
Avg. community purchase price 399 €
What members paid for this bottle, self-reported. Not a market value — the purchases are over three years old at the median and unverified.
Details about Clarendon Rum Sponge No. 20 1997
A Pot Still Rum from Jamaica, bottled by Decadent Drinks LTD, at 63%.
Community purchases
20 bottles logged by 19 collectors.
A collector's bottle.
5% opened, 0 emptied and repurchased.
What did the community pay for Clarendon Rum Sponge No. 20 1997?
Community paid 297–384 €.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
20 purchased · 52 tasted · 54 wishlist · as of
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