Caroni was the state distillery of Trinidad which began production in 1918, and had access to its own sugar refinery that guaranteed its supply of local cane sugar. Equipped with both column stills and double distillation pot stills, until 2002 it produced heavy rums with a distinctive profile described by some as "nail varnish", along with spices, syrup, and barbequed pineapple. For a long time the distillery remained known only to a handful of connoisseurs, which gave it a mythical status further enhanced by its closure in 2002 in tandem with the collapse of the cane sugar industry in Trinidad. Caroni's dwindling stock is mostly owned today by Velier, La Maison du Whisky, Bristol, and a few other private and independent bottlers. Caroni's bottled by Velier are the main reason for its rising fame, as these bottles have extensive tropical aging and high ABV, expressing the best that Caroni can offer.
This single cask Caroni, distilled in 1996 and aged tropically for 22 years before bottling by Velier for Bar Lamp and Shinanoya represents the ultimate in collectible rums. One of only 210 bottles, this release can rightfully be said to be a legend amongst Caroni bottlings.
Size: 70 cl
ABV: 68.1%
Fill level: Good
With box?: Yes