Velier Caroni Paradise #12 Heavy Trinidad Rum 1996
A world-class heavy Caroni: massive yet balanced, with tar, rubber, chocolatey sweetness and tropical fruit wrapped in dry, complex oak. Widely praised as a standout 1996 Velier bottling.
Seasoned Caroni fans and high-ester lovers wanting a powerful, mature 1996 cask-strength bottling with classic tar, rubber, sweet chocolate and tropical fruit complexity.
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How does this rum taste?
World-class heavy Caroni experience
If you already enjoy intense 1996 Caronis, this Velier Paradise cask pushes that profile to a drier, oak-driven, chocolate-and-tar mix that rewards slow, focused sipping at reduced strength.
Beginners, those sensitive to high ABV, or drinkers who dislike dirty, industrial Caroni notes and are wary of very premium pricing.
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About the Caroni distillery
The Caroni distillery is located in Trinidad. Rums from Caroni have been reviewed 9,848 times with an average of 8.8/10.
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A rum tasted at Whisky Live Paris 2025. An exceptional nose, as Caroni 1996s can sometimes offer. Fruit, banana, yellow fruit and tropical fruit, power yet sweetness, a few empyreumatic notes (machine shop) and supporting wood. Very nice entry on the palate, still with fruit, but with good acidity at first, which soon dominates the distillate to the detriment of the other aromas. What a shame! The finish is extremely long, and as the acidity diminishes, the fruit, wood and mechanical workshop take over again. A beautiful nose, a fine finish, yet the palate struggles to convince.
Auto-translated12.10.2025 Relaxing after coming home from the Whisky Live Hamburg 2025. Nose Wood, light roasted, light rubber, leather, light cherry, faint mint, dried fruit, faint tar. Palate Oily, wood, light burnt, dry, roasted, nutmeg, light tar, faint rubber, light tobacco, light leather, earthy, light dried fruit. Finish Long, wood, medium dry, oily, dried fruit, light tar, faint herbal, tobacco. Empty glass Ligth tar and rubber, tobacco, light cherry, faint caramel.
Auto-translatedThe next "surprise cask" - from the outstanding 1996 vintage. The cask belongs to the Guyana stock and therefore promises heavy sweetness alongside the dirty HTR notes. And indeed, the rich sweet notes are also immediately apparent on the nose, with a sweetness reminiscent of milk chocolate, vanilla and caramelized sugar dominating the nose. The HTR-typical markers initially appear more in the background, but become more clearly recognizable with a little time in the glass and the associated oxidation. Tropical fruits also appear and provide freshness. On the palate, the barrel also demands attention, the wood presents itself paired with some spiciness from allspice, chili and licorice, plus tar and a somewhat tart tonality on the finish. The very dominant sweetness of milk chocolate and caramel sugar is initially still quite present in the mouth, but is increasingly displaced by the rather tart and spicy barrel notes on the finish. A top-class Caroni cask on the verge of overripeness; the nose is convincing with its very balanced sweetness, the palate becomes more demanding, even if it does not leave the high level of most tropically aged Caronis. A direct comparison with the greats of the distillery clearly shows that other casks are even more complex - and score points.
Auto-translatedWhisky Live Paris 2025 - to be tasted again to confirm score and notes I'm not a fan of the Caroni, but this 1996 vintage are definitely good. A layer of tar and fuel that do not cover the fruitiness of this rum. Lovely. Unfortunately the price tag is really High.