Velier Caroni 23 Year 1996 “The Last”

Review #1302; Rum #607

This bottling here is the so called last release of Velier Caroni from Luca. This molasses based rum was distilled from molasses on a column still and aged for 23 years before being bottled at cask strength with no additives. It was fully tropically aged, in Trinidad from 1996 to 2008 and then in Guyana from 2008 till 2019 when it was bottled.

---

Distillery: Caroni

Bottler: Velier

Region: Trinidad

Still: Column

ABV: 61.9%

---

Nose:  Hydraulic Fluid, Grilled Mango, Raspberry, Star Anise, Dark Chocolate, Leather, Orange Marmalade

Palate: Thick oily mouthfeel, Hydraulic Fluid, Orange Marmalade, Raspberry, Star Anise, Dark Chocolate, Leather

Finish:   Long finish, Black Pepper, Orange Marmalade, Raspberry, Star Anise, Hydraulic Fluid, Dark Chocolate, Black Tea

Rating: 9/10

Yeah, I can see why this is held up as one of those Caroni’s and is up there with tasting gang as one of the best Caronis I’ve tasted. It’s incredibly balanced, some Caronis are all industrial with no fruit but this one manages to walk the line well. You have that dirty, mechanics garage thing going here as well as a medley of tropical fruits that are sitting on the grill. A touch of dark chocolate and leather round the whole thing out and the finish just goes on forever.