Velier Caroni 35th Release Heavy Trinidad Rum (Trespassers) HTR

"Epic Velier Caroni Tasting 2023: Very aromatic and intense, the high alcohol adds punch but also expressiveness. Lots of vanilla melt on the palate and finish. Excellent 1996 Caroni, although not quite at the top of the vintage."

"1996 Veliers are always a guarantee for good caronis, and this is no exception. Trepasser comes along quite brute. Apart from the typical rubber tar notes, there is some vanilla and fruit. Oxidation helps this rum extremely."

"Ultra expressive rum with typical Caroni profile from 1996 vintage. Perfect balance between round and dirty notes with some candied tropical fruits. Alcohol integration is perfect. An absolute monster and my favorite rum of all time together with its brother 1992 FP 💘"

"In the glass it takes times an eternity, two hours of ventilation is not wrong there.A wonderful nose, beautiful dried fruit. The classic Caroni vibe (burnt tar, rubber) is not quite as pronounced and unexpectedly (70%) the nose is somewhat restrained.In the mouth then brutally the fist, but very, very good. In the finish then still spoils the full load of spices.Beautiful Caroni to enjoy and then freshen up."

"Day 11 of the Samples de luxe calendar. A rum whose bottle has been opened and immediately put into mignonettes. No oxygenation, which explains the virtual absence of Caroni markers. Beyond the sting of alcohol, a very sweet nose with candy sugar, leather and wood. The same sensation is found on the palate. The alcohol is very well integrated (impossible to imagine 70.1%) and the aromas arrive immediately afterwards. Incense, smoke, old leather and wood. I imagine a centuries-old church with wooden pews and weathered leather cushions. Outside, it's the city with its traffic and hints of tar. The finish is splendidly long. Deep, broad aromas. My money was on a very old Demerara. Must be tasted again with oxidation. Tasted again and it seems even better."

"An incredibly good Caroni that also benefits from a few drops of water. Then it offers everything a Caroni can offer."

"Very cool nose. On the palate, however, the rum has too much punch due to the very high alcohol content. At the end of a tasting, however, it can really score points."

"Un Caroni qui fait office de poids lourd dans sa catégorie. Le nez est parfaitement maîtrisé, oscillant entre les notes empyreumatiques et sales de Caroni d’un côté (goudron, caoutchouc, notes fumées, menthol, tabac, cuir), les notes fruitées (fruits exotiques, mangue, fruits secs avec le raisin) et boisées de l’autre. L’aération fait venir des épices chatoyantes (vanille, poivre) et des notes gourmandes sur l’amande, le café, le caramel et une touche pâtissière. Un profil olfactif d’une grande profondeur et d’une belle complexité. L’attaque en bouche relève d’une épopée épique, à la fois très intense et très savoureuse. L’alcool est certes présent, mais extrêmement bien intégré pour 70,1%. On retrouve le goudron, le caoutchouc, le vieux cuir et les notes fumées, mais aussi un boisé lourd, puissant mais très bien fondu qui tapisse le palais, accompagné de notes épicées et chaudes, de chocolat au lait, de café espresso ainsi que des notes de noix et de tabac. Les fruits sont pratiquement absents, mais le caramel et un voile mentholé viennent donner de la rondeur au profil vers la fin de bouche. Un rhum dantesque qui fait vivre une expérience gustative hors du commun. La finale est extrêmement longue, chaleureuse, sèche mais tout aussi délicieuse et harmonieuse. Le côté sale et empyreumatique ressurgit avec le boisé intense, le cuir et les notes torréfiés portées par le café, le chocolat et les noix. On retrouve également quelques notes médicinales, du tabac et du menthol qui jouent à cache-cache. Les épices, le caramel et un soupçon de toffee confèrent gourmandise et profondeur à ce profil extrême. Bien qu’il soit à boire avec parcimonie, c’est un superbe Caroni en tout point et un parfait représentant de son Millésime."

"... 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."

"Wow, this is brutal when first sipped! A mouth full of spices straight up. Then followed by restrained Caroni notes, rubber,tar and the like. I'm getting some fruits, as well as vanilla! I really like it, hits like a hammer. A restrained nose with a long finish."

"For caroni, 1996 was perhaps the year where the best rums came out! And this trespassers is confirmation of that! Notwithstanding its high grade and all integrated to perfection! The typical tar/petrol/caoutch note is present but not excessive and blends with all the other flavors! An amazing rum!"

"A real board! But the alcohol could be better integrated."

"Wow, intense caroni. But very, very tasty. The 70% is so well integrated. Dirty, fruity with rubber and leather, as it should be. Menthol and cassis, molasses syrup. Great fun to drink."

"Insanely wicked Caroni. A 96 as it is written in the book. Dirty, spicy, heavy and almost numbs the tongue. Passion fruit, guava, mint, fresh rubber tires, fresh road tar and cinnamon, milk chocolate and black pepper. Everything on the leather couch. Very tasty!"

"Very nice balance of dirt, fruits and sweetness. Very high up on the scale for ( 96 ) Caronis for me personally."