Velier Caroni Paradise #5

"Epic Velier Caroni Tasting 2023: Almost Demerara-like on the nose - oak, caramel, subtle vanilla. On the palate with recognizable barrel influence, well-balanced bitterness. Alcohol very well integrated. Slightly less menthol than other representatives of the vintage. Beautiful complexity."

"Wow! The first smell already gives you an idea of what to expect here: Absolute Caroni top class! Intense, spicy and caramelly. The blind tasting reminds me of a Demerara rum (similar to CBH 1998). Caroni comes to perfection on the palate. Lots of wood (but not too much), creaminess and an endless, pleasant finish. An absolute 2000 reference!"

"My 1000th tasting... something special was needed. And this Caroni is perfect 🤩 I am really thrilled. Pure pleasure from the nose to the finish... I'm really thrilled. Not so classically dirty with dark, sweet berries, but an elegance that is beguiling!"

"The Paradise competes against the Velier 2000 High Proof (RX5769). The Paradise comes across less dirty on the nose than the High Proof. I also got tropical fruits, cake batter, vanilla, caramel. The palate is also very balanced, with tropical fruit, rubber, workshop, cappuccino, barrel. I'm a bit torn. With Caronis, I just want the dirty workshop notes and the rough edges. It's almost a little too round for me..."

"Best from the 2000 Paradise Line!"

"A much less dirty caroni 2000 than its siblings! The tar part is less pronounced and more pleasant, while its menthol and medicinal part here turns into a very pleasant mint leaf and eucalyptus! The persistence is really amazing!"

"I prefer #5 over # 4. Similar on the nose but more intense, richer, more edgy. Dried fruits, leather, caramel, polish. Very well balanced close to perfection. Not as complex or intense as my recent benchmark 1996/1999 Diamond. But in its balanced character close. Or am I guided by the Caroni flash? It’s a Velier Caroni, it has to be good!"

"I tasted this Caroni at Velier Live 24. It is a great Caroni! Not as "dirty" as many others bottled by Velier but no less good! The alcohol is really perfectly integrated. The nose is caramelized, with notes of coffee and eucalyptus. On the palate it is at its best: it is a dense, creamy rum, as the color that can be glimpsed from the clear, hand-blown glass bottle already suggests. It is a balanced but at the same time very complex rum with menthol, chocolate and licorice notes. The finish is really persistent and long."