Caroni 1998 15 years old Velier - Extra Strong 104° Proof - b. 2013 - 70cl

Tasting Notes
Appearance: Deep amber with warm golden and mahogany highlights.
Nose: Intense, sharp, and unmistakable. Initially dominated by Caroni’s signature "heavy / industrial" notes (tar, rubber, hydrocarbons, and graphite), balanced by hints of dried exotic fruit (banana, mango), vanilla, cocoa, leather, tobacco, and fine wood.
Palate: Powerful, dense, and complex. On the palate, it displays a great balance between its high proof (52%) and the richness of the spirit: notes of toasted molasses, warm spices (cinnamon, nutmeg), candied fruit, oak wood, and a touch of burnt molasses.
Finish: Very long, warm, and lingering, with smoky, toasted, and spicy echoes that continue to evolve in the glass.
History of the Caroni Distillery and This Edition
Foundation and Closure: Founded in 1918 within the state-owned sugar refinery of the same name on the island of Trinidad, the Caroni distillery was famous for producing a unique, "heavy" style of rum (rich in congeners), crafted using both column stills and copper pot stills. In 2002, the government of Trinidad and Tobago decided to close it down permanently.
The Discovery of the Casks and the Legendary Revival (Velier): In 2004, Luca Gargano (head of the historic Genoa-based distribution house Velier) visited the remains of the abandoned distillery and discovered hundreds of barrels left maturing in tropical warehouses since the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. Velier acquired the stock, starting a series of bottlings that turned Caroni into a true icon among collectors worldwide.
Key Features of This Bottling:
Raw Material: Distilled in 1998 from the last batches of 100% local Trinidad molasses.
Aging: Aged for 15 years entirely in Trinidad's tropical climate, which greatly accelerates barrel extraction and flavor concentration compared to European aging.
Strength: Bottled Extra Strong at 52% ABV (104° Proof), non-chill filtered, and with no added sugar or caramel coloring.