Velier Caroni 34th Release 100 Proof 1996 20yr 57,18%

RX249 Excellent 3,800 bottles 250€+

“Complex Caroni blend with tar, vanilla, spice.”

The 34th Release 100 Proof Heavy Trinidad Rum is a limited edition rum crafted at the renowned Caroni distillery in Trinidad, known for its “dirty” and tarry profile, mixed with sweet and fruity notes. Selected and bottled by Velier, this rum was distilled in 1996 from molasses and aged for 20 years, boasting an ABV of 57.18%. Users describe its complex aromas, featuring vanilla, barrel, and tropical fruits, following into a spicy, tar-laden, and balanced palate. A deeply layered experience that combines burnt caramel, spices, and leathery notes with a long finish. This well-rounded Caroni represents the bold, characteristic style associated with its heritage, appealing to both collectors and connoisseurs.

Where can I buy this rum?

1 shop offer available for 800.00 €:

Distilia
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800 €

Highlights

Complex and balanced profile
Rich tar and vanilla notes
Long, pleasant finish

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The author Steffen Mayer with his book 100% Trinidad Rum

CARONI - 100% Trinidad Rum

Discover the fascination of the closed Caroni Distillery on over 1136 pages with a total weight of 9.4kg - a real masterpiece by Steffen Mayer!

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How does this rum taste?

This Caroni release offers a complex and balanced profile, showcasing intricate notes of tar, spice, and vanilla. A perfect blend of sweetness and robust flavors.

Most frequently mentioned flavors

Aroma

Vanilla Barrel Tropical fruit Woody Tar Solvents

Taste

Tar Balanced Spicy Complex Vanilla Woody

Finish

Rubber Barrel Spicy Raisin Roasted Woody

Community reviews

9.1/1087 ratings

Community rating

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Jakob

30 December 2023

9.0/10

“Epic Velier Caroni Tasting 2023: Very round Caroni, which has not been harmed by the slight reduction to Navy Strength. The rum brings the 96 sweetness in perfection to the expression, in addition sounds rubber, fresh oak and vorallem a present spiciness from coffee, pepper and clove. Was for a long time a still well available Caroni representative from 1996, but has now "caught up" and is also increasing in price - but here it may at least be noted that the quality in the glass is absolutely convincing. An excellent representative of the m.E. anyway outstanding vintage 1996.”

Aroma

Oak Vanilla Bicycle tube Caramel Tropical fruit

Taste

Vanilla Rubber Oak Tropical fruit Black pepper

Photo of the rum 34th Release 100 Proof Heavy Trinidad Rum taken from user Jakob

Oliver

19 January 2024

9.1/10

“Unfolds its full potential after approx. 45 minutes in the air. After the waiting time, you are rewarded with a fantastic Caroni nose: tar, rubber, caramel and solvents - the HTR profile in its purest form. The palate is incredibly complex and the pleasant sweetness of the 1996 vintage provides the perfect counterpoint to the rather dirty notes. Rightly a classic of tropically aged Caronis! Complex yet balanced and delicious. A real experience!”

Aroma

Dirty Bicycle tube Complex Tropical fruit Varnish

Taste

Creamy Full bodied Dirty Bicycle tube Tropical fruit

Photo of the rum 34th Release 100 Proof Heavy Trinidad Rum taken from user Oliver

Maxence

22 January 2024

8.7/10

“Definitely a good rum but mouth is quite disapointing with some pepper / chilli notes which are quite disturbing. Alcohol integration could have been better as well for the nose. What a surprise for a diluted version of "Trespassers" bottling, one of my favourite Caroni 👀”

Aroma

Tar Vegetal Woody Waxes Coconut

Taste

Tar Vegetal Woody Smoky Leather

Photo of the rum 34th Release 100 Proof Heavy Trinidad Rum taken from user Maxence

Gunnar Böhme "Bauerngaumen" 🤓

24 June 2024

9.3/10

“One of the most convincing rums I've ever had in a glass, and for me the second-best Caroni to date (behind The Last, which I remember as being a little thicker on the palate). A little dream. Not just for a Monday evening. 😍”

Photo of the rum 34th Release 100 Proof Heavy Trinidad Rum taken from user Gunnar Böhme "Bauerngaumen" 🤓

Leo Tomczak

24 December 2022

9.2/10

“Really incredible quality. Definitely one of my highlight rums so far. Eternal finish, but still very round balanced 96 Caroni. At the 2nd tasting still a rum to kneel down. Wow.”

Aussierumfan

2 February 2024

9.2/10

“A wonderful Caroni! So balanced yet so complex, very enjoyable. I gave this one a bit of time in the glass. Love the dirty notes, tar and rubber, but I love the slight sweetness as well. Spicy and some fruits as well as it being quite oily on the palate. A lovely long finish, A great start to my Velier tasting journey😁”

Aroma

Woody Fruity Spicy Rubber Bicycle tube

Taste

Sweet Fruity Spicy Tar Bicycle tube

Photo of the rum 34th Release 100 Proof Heavy Trinidad Rum taken from user Aussierumfan

Galli33

15 September 2022

9.2/10

“#24 RumXCalendar Blind tasting: N: cocconut, tar, rubber, spicy, dirty, woody, rosted nuts M: complex, dry, spicy, tar, woody, rubber, leather, oak F:Dark Chocolate, tar, minty, oak, vanilla, toffee Prediction: Caroni, for sure 😎, approx. 65% and with 20 years What a great rum for the 24th! Great mix of fruits and caroni. Very balanced and pleasant to drink. It’s a high 90 candidate, if it wasn‘t watered down.. Update: Found this is a small restaurant in italy. After the second sip, still an amazing rum.”

Aroma

Bicycle tube Tar Rubber Tropical fruit Coconut

Taste

Balanced Complex Dirty Delicious Tar

TheRhumhoe

3 March 2024

9.2/10

“Un Caroni très élaboré qui oscille entre puissance et élégance. Le nez est rempli de notes sales mêlant hydrocarbures et atelier de garage automobile, avec une bonne dose de notes fumées qui vont vers le fût de chêne. Les épices viennent aguicher le nez avec le caramel cuit et la mélasse. Les fruits, secs et tropicaux, donnent un supplément de rondeur aux narines, avec des notes de noix de coco sur la longueur. Un très bon rendu entre l’authenticité du jus et sa douceur. L’attaque est bouche est spectaculaire, tant dans la richesse que la subtilité des arômes. Le côté pétrolifère ressort de plein fouet avec une touche épicée sur la vanille et le piment. Le cuir et les notes fumées emplissent la bouche, mais cela reste très gouleyant grâce aux fruits exotiques et aux fruits secs qui donnent beaucoup de volupté. L’alcool est très bien intégré. La finale est extrêmement longue, imprégnée par les notes sales et empyreumatiques. Les épices donnent un côté chaud et vif que l’on retrouve du palais. La gourmandise des fruits et du caramel est toujours palpable. Un Caroni si délicieux qu’on pourrait en boire tous les jours, à la fois complet, profond, riche et très fin. Un pur ravissement sensorielle.”

Aroma

Rubber Tar Leather Woody Oak

Taste

Rubber Tar Woody Oak Barrel

Photo of the rum 34th Release 100 Proof Heavy Trinidad Rum taken from user TheRhumhoe

Frank

26 December 2021

9.1/10

“RumX Advent Calendar, 24.12, blind.First impression: a super Demerara, direction CBH, or TDL? With time, the increasingly dirty and minty, vlt. but Caroni? nose: incredibly beautiful, compact, aromatic, round. Spicy-fruity with orange, cherry, grape and berries as well as vanilla, tobacco and light licorice. Lovely woody and a fine vinegar note to it. Fresh mint, light at the beginning, getting stronger at the end. With time it gets dirtier and goes towards Caroni.Palate: complex, tasty. Minty and pleasantly woody, slightly bitter and malty-spicy. In fruit I find cassis, lemon, orange peel, peach, candied orange peel. Some anise and leather and a touch of pistachio. Hardly dirty on the palate.A beautiful, fruity and compact Caroni with less dirty flavors.”

Aroma

Round Concentrated Complex Spicy Fruity

Taste

Complex Spicy Marzipan Honey Peaches

Serge

25 July 2024

9.0/10

“Schöne Nase mit einer tollen Melange aus Gummi/Teer mit herrlichem Karamell, Vanille, getrockneten Früchten (Rosine, Kokos, Aprikose) und Lösungsmitteln. Gaumen kommt für mich nicht ganz mit der Nase mit.”

Aroma

Barrel Woody Roasted Vanilla Raisin

Taste

Woody Barrel Tar Vanilla Raisin

Photo of the rum 34th Release 100 Proof Heavy Trinidad Rum taken from user Serge

mto75

25 December 2021

9.0/10

“very round Caroni, on the nose dried apricot, caramel sweetness, furniture polish, spices (allspice / vanilla) and wood barrel. On the palate also rather sweet and spicy notes. The toasty/charred notes occur here rather discreetly, not as brute as in the 93 vintage for a long time.”

Aroma

Dried apricot Spice Caramel Polish Allspice

Taste

Dried fruit Full bodied Caramel Toasted Rubber

Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰

20 December 2021

9.0/10

“This is a Caroni from one of their exceptional years and it is a great rum. This rum is very hard to find and the price is very high now. Typical Caroni with rubber and tar, yum. Lots of wood and wood tannins with added fruity notes and spices. Lightly dry but we'll balanced and complex. Would have loved a few backup bottles of this particular one.”

Aroma

Vanilla Anise Caramel Leather Plum

Taste

Burnt sugar Dried fruit Tar Dry Tannins

Felix Reiber

22 June 2024

9.2/10

“Ein ausgezeichnetes Produkt. Caroni ist ohnehin die richtige Adresse für unterhaltsame und einzigartige Aromen. In der Nase breiten sich Karamell, Beeren und tropische Früchte aus. Fast schon nussige, dunkle Schokolade, Holz und kräuter kommen dazu. Im Mund ist eine schöne und fruchtige Süße. Dunkles Karamell, Beeren und wieder Schokolade gehen über in Keksteig und Leder und münden in holzigen und kräuterigen Tönen. Tee und Fassnoten sind im Hintergrund. Sehr komplex und ausgewogen. Der Abgang ist lang mit Noten von Karamell, Kakao, Leder, Kräutern und interessanten Fasseinflüssen. Das leere Glas riecht fantastisch. Ich bin wirklich begeistert von dieser komplexen Kreation, die immer einer gewissen Balance folgt. Vielen Dank an Rumkopf für das Sample.”

Aroma

Caramel Tropical fruit Biscuits Cherry Berries

Taste

Sweet Caramel Fruity Woody Biscuits

Photo of the rum 34th Release 100 Proof Heavy Trinidad Rum taken from user Felix Reiber

Domi Mal

30 December 2021

9.3/10

“A year ago already had in the glass - and again WOW! Quite great Caroni cinema! A very good representative of the 1996 Caronis! Dirty, phenolic, varnish, tar, barrel, oily, the whole workshop is there! Full in the face - shows a very extensive flavor spectrum and is an absolute must for all Caroni lovers!”

Aroma

Solvents Varnish Tropical fruit Barrel Dirty

Taste

Balanced Tar Complex Phenol Tropical fruit

Giorgio Garotti

23 May 2024

9.3/10

“Very similar to trespasser you can feel very much that the vintages are the same! In my opinion 1996 is the best vintage of caroni and this blend proves it! A perfect balance of hydrocarbon wood and fruit!”

Aroma

Tar Rubber Coconut Raisin Creme Brulee

Taste

Tar Rubber Coconut Roasted Vanilla

Photo of the rum 34th Release 100 Proof Heavy Trinidad Rum taken from user Giorgio Garotti

Expert reviews

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What are the key facts about this rum?

Country
Trinidad

Distillery
Caroni

Bottler
Velier

RumX ID
RX249

ABV
57,18%

Vintage
1996

Mark
Heavy Trinidad Rum

Made from
Molasses

Age
20 years

No. of bottles
3800

Bottle volume
70cl

Price range
250€+

Type of spirit
Rum

What is the price trend for this rum?

942 €

Ø Market value

Community purchase statistics

The RumX community has already added 246 bottles to their collections:

229

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opened

emptied

Open rate

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