Caroni 1996 - 2020 Special Edition 3rd Release Vijay "Vijay" Ranmarine

Nose

The nose is powerful and deep. Immediately, notes of used engine oil, asphalt, and smoky wood emerge. These are followed by layers of candied fruit, spices, leather, and a hint of eucalyptus. The aroma is intense and layered, with a touch of industrial nostalgia.

Palate

Rich and expressive. On the tongue, you’re hit with burnt sugar, dark molasses, bitter chocolate, and espresso. Beneath these dominant flavors lie more subtle notes of orange peel, roasted nuts, and savory spices. The texture is full, oily, and long-lasting.

Finish

Very long and full of character. The finish delivers waves of tar, smoke, black pepper, and licorice. As the flavors fade, a warm, spicy impression remains. A powerful finale to an intense rum experience.

Caroni is one of the most legendary closed rum distilleries in the world. The distillery was established in 1923 on the site of the old Caroni sugar factory in Trinidad and was closely connected with the island’s extensive sugar cane industry. Caroni produced rum from molasses and became particularly known for powerful, heavy distillates with a highly distinctive character.

For decades, Caroni rum was mainly used for blends and bulk supply, leaving the name relatively unknown to the wider public. This changed after Caroni closed in 2003. When Luca Gargano of Italy’s Velier visited the abandoned distillery in 2004, he discovered substantial stocks of mature rum remaining in the warehouses. Part of this inventory was acquired and later released as extensively tropical aged Caroni.

These bottlings transformed Caroni into a cult name among rum enthusiasts. The so called Heavy Trinidad Rum in particular became famous for its powerful, oily style and distinctive earthy, smoky and tarry notes. Other independent bottlers also released surviving casks. With the distillery permanently gone and the original stocks steadily diminishing, every Caroni represents a fragment of Trinidad’s historic rum industry.

Velier is one of the most influential independent bottlers and importers in the modern rum world. The company was founded in Genoa in 1947 by Casimiro Chaix and initially specialised in importing wine and spirits. A major turning point came in 1983, when Luca Gargano acquired a share in Velier and increasingly directed the company towards distinctive and authentic spirits.

Among rum enthusiasts, Velier became particularly famous for its selections of mature Demerara rums from Guyana and for discovering remaining stocks from Trinidad’s closed Caroni Distillery in 2004. Many of these rums had been fully matured in the tropics and were bottled at high or natural strength, accompanied by unusually detailed information about origin and production.

Projects involving Hampden Estate, Haitian Clairin and the Habitation Velier series have also had a major influence on the way enthusiasts understand rum. Velier places strong emphasis on traditional production methods, origin, transparency and the character of the original distillery. This uncompromising approach has given Velier an almost legendary reputation among serious rum enthusiasts.