Velier Caroni 36th Release Heavy Trinidad Rum Guyana Stock HTR

"Quite dirty, very little fruit, lots of wood/spice tones and mint. I really enjoy it. Develops a higher complexity after years in the open bottle. The 1994 vintage is clearly too dirty (which is cool) and too unbalanced for a better rating."

"Epic Velier Caroni Tasting 2023: Develops amazing aromatic complexity with a little patience and time spent in the bottle. Rather dry Caroni with only discreet, but very charming residual sweetness and a lot of barrel influence, which is undoubtedly intense, but does not tip into the too bitter. One of the bottlings where the long availability is qualitatively inexplicable. Exceptionally good."

"Initially quite bitter and minty Caroni. However, with some rest and oxidation unfolds a highly complex and first-class rum!"

"Simply wow! Wood, heavy, tar, sweet, palatable. World class for such a very dry rum. It remains my favorite among the heavy Caronis. Lots of tobacco and tea notes. Compared to the other single casks, you can actually still find this rum for three-digit euro amounts, even if that is of course still an absurd price."

"A very dark rum in appearance. 23 years of tropical aging. It takes time, a lot of time to reveal itself, but then it becomes an exceptional rum. Still marked by the wood, but with a complexity and depth of flavors never tasted before. The finish is endless and the empty glass the next morning tells a story of its own.In a word: the more oxidized it is, the better it is.The bottom of the bottle is my best rum experience to date."

"Initially very good, also sweetness, then very present dirt notes, in the finish already clear bitterness!"

"An all-round enjoyable Caroni exactly to my taste... that's how it has to be for me... if there was a little more fruit (red berries) in it... it would have earned top marks 😋"

"Very nice on. Heavy on wood and cask notes with a nice touch of remaining sweetness and only hints of fruits. Reasonably dirty as well. Like it very much."

"Small Caroni tasting. This one is more on the dark woody side. Super intense. A little bitter, a little tar. Nevertheless very round, complex, delicious. For me, one of the best Caronis I've had in a glass so far."

"Update: The last rest of the sample has improved in quality and the rum has gained more life and fruit. Definitely a good bottle to have open for a long time. 👌 Great tropical Caroni. Nice and dirty with a pleasantly small (but fine) residual sweetness, nice wood astringency & mint/menthol and burnt sugar/caramel with leather and tobacco. With patience, some nut & nougat on the nose plus 🍌 and after a long lingering time some mango / dried mango or a (very small) hint of tropical fruit on the palate."

"Another Caroni 1994 with a very dark profile. Nose is absolutely crazy : so intense and heavy. However, palate is less balanced and probably a little too woody and bitterish. It still tastes really good 🤙"

"Freshly polished wooden dresser, varnish, fruit and burnt rubber out the back. Very dignified and noble the nose. In the mouth then almost only wood. Dry, astringent. I understand that opinions about this rum are divided, the weak point is in the mouth, in the finish then good again.According to experts, the Open Sample will be even better. Let's see in a few weeks.Edit: This happened nowIn the nose megagut, something more on fruit (mango, banana). You can smell a few hours on it...In the mouth still very astringent, but very complex now. Finish now also a bit more pleasing. Lots of oak and mango. A great Caroni!!!"

"A wonderfully intense and heavy Caroni we have here! A dirty Caroni with lots of wood. A very dark colour which I guess is the result of tropical aging. A poweful nose. Very spicy and complex on the palate. I am getting petrol, oak and some fruits/mango in the back ground! The wood is very present, getting close to bitter but still very enjoyable. A very length finish. I have a large sample so I am going to try it again in a few months to see what oxidisation does."

"Extremely dry, fresh, light and bitter like strong Assam black tea with a little mint. Very well balanced, for me personally it is just a little too dry and woody... Nevertheless, an absolute exception for me and really delicious."

"... Caroni is a distillery from Trinidad, producing at the time of its greatest glory rum, which was added at a ratio of 1:10 to the naval blend. It was too strong and strange to be pleasant on the tongue. In 2000, the distillery ceased production and closed. Only in 2010 did tasters appear who took a liking to the rum because of its special taste. And the interest grew. Caroni belongs to the category of "you need to try before you die" rums. I recommend it, Caroni is a truly unique rum."