Bristol Classic 1997 Trinidad Caroni HTR 19-Year

Výtečné Caroni. Typické Caroni, které bohužel není tak dobré jako Caroni, ale chutná skvěle.

Destilleret i 1997 - aftappet 2016. 61,5 %.
Stærk, men helt igennem fantastisk smag. Ekstrem lang og dejlig eftersmag.

Update 06.2021 -> tried version 1997 - 2017:
Smell: I mainly get leather notes, sweetness from burnt sugar, some vanilla and wood notes. We have more wood here. Some dried fruits can be smelled subtle in the background. Some barrel aromas are deeper in the glass.
Still a good Caroni smell, not very dirty but more woody or heavy I would say.

Taste: Dirty start with a composition of tar, gum, dried fruit and some bitter substances. These aromas transform into leather notes with some tannins. The aging influence. In the middle the spiciness increases and the rum releases some vanilla with wood. In the finish, is leather and tannins are still noticeable.

Aftertaste: leather notes, bitter substances, dried fruit

This rum seems to be a little bit darker and slightly more woody. Still the same aromas overall.
Can't choose a winner, they are both good. Would choose the same rating points.

1997 - 2015 Version.
When bottling this Caroni, John Barrett jumped on the Velier train and bottled it at cask strength. The rum was matured in bourbon barrels and has not received a special finish. So we can look forward to Bourbon wood. The rum is 18 years old and was partly tropical and continental matured.

Smell: The smell is neither very intense and dirty, nor is it fruity. I mainly get leather notes, sweetness from burnt sugar, some vanilla and some wood notes. Some dried fruits can be smelled subtle in the background, but no black currant, which I miss. Some greasy barrel aromas are deeper in the glass.
A beautiful and almost mild caroni smell that lives heavily on leather notes.

Taste: Dirty start with a composition of tar, gum, dried fruit and some bitter substances. These aromas transform into leather notes with orange zest as the rum becomes warm in the mouth. In the middle the spiciness increases and the rum releases some vanilla with wood. In the finish, dry orange peel, leather and tannins are still noticeable.

Aftertaste: leather notes, bitter substances, orange zest, dried fruit

Conclusion: A delicious caroni, unfortunately with little complexity and few fruit notes. For 61.5% it is almost mild.

Overall rating: 88 points

Sweetness: 1.5 / 5
Fruit: 1.5 / 5
Spice: 2.5 / 5
Complexity: 2.5 / 5
PL (175 €): 4/5

Gentle aroma. First taste is nice fruity sweet, but after approx. 3 second starts burning (stronger than you would expect from 43%) aftertaste is not pleasant, short with salt tones.

Mein erster Caroni Rum.
Und er hat mich sofort überzeugt.
So viel Geschmack in einem Glas.

Caroni classic heavy style, almost at points like an older sherry whisky: Big, bold, fruity, oily...Truly a big Caroni.

Dark amber color towards mahogany. On the nose, there are candied fruits, it is very pastry. Crème brûlée, toast. Subtle notes of smoke and solvent. It is not yet the classic big artillery Caroni.
On the palate, it stays on the same aroma, it is powerful and after a very long aeration, the Caroni classic markers arrive, smoked, bitumen but it does not kill the palate. It's long and beautiful, but it's still accessible for neophytes. Beautiful rum.

Ekkarraktär. Eldig och diesel som en Caroni ska vara. Smooth och söt övermorgon frukt.

Ein Geheimtip,ein super Caroni und aus einem der besten Jahrgänge bei Caroni
Würde Velier draufstehen würde die Flasche gleich 3x soviel kosten.
Schwer stark und wunderschön ölig im Glas,eine wunderbare Nase,schöner langer Nachhall.
Der hohe Alkoholgehalt ist schön eingebunden,man sollte ihn jedoch grosszügig im Glas atmen lassen
Die Flaschen sind (Stand 1/2018) noch gut zwischen 120-140 Euro im Handel zu bekommen.
Das ist ein fairer Preis und in Anbetracht dass Caroni schon jetzt Geschichte ist und bald aus sein wird ist der Preis geradezu einer der letzten Aufrufe sich einzudecken.

A difficult rum, with some smokiness and absolutely no sweetness. However extremely rich in flavour