Caroni 1998, 23 years, Trinidad edition No. 1
Naturally, we wanted to offer something from Trinidad’s famous silent Caroni distillery. This unique spirit was distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2021 after 23 years in an ex-Rum cask. Each of the 249 bottles contains 23-year-old spirit with an ABV of 62,2%. and labelled in red of the Trinidadian flag.
Trinidad 1998 edition no. 1
Region: Trinidad
Distillery: Caroni
Age: 23
Distillation: 01-1998
Bottled: 04-2021
Cask no: 47
Cask type: Ex-Recycled Rum Casks
Still type: Column
Maturation: continental
ABV 62,2%
Vol. 700 ml
No bottles: 249
Tasting Notes:
“Colour: amber. Nose: perhaps a little more biscuity, more on praline, cakes, nougat… But otherwise it remains a tar and liquorice bomb, only with less diesel oil than in the 1997s. Some menthol; I have to say some traits could suggest this was aged in the tropics rather than in Europe (or yeah, in the UK) but I'm not sure about that at all. What's more, with global warming, we may get a tropical climate in Europe too. With water: herbs and hay, dried kelp, some engine oil. Caroni, eh. Mouth: extremely punchy, with some concentrated lemon juice and just a lot of salt. Do not even consider not adding any water. With water: oh very good, citrusy, less buoyant than the others, more 'digestive', more 'old Macallan' (whatever that means)… In short, more malternative. Finish (neat): long, big and balanced. An elephant on a tightrope. Some tar is back in the aftertaste. Comments: this you could quaff.”
Note: SGP:463 - 90 points.
Source: whiskyfun.com
Nose: earthy and dusty notes up front, cigars, hints of banana cake. Later also camphor and some raisins. Leathery notes, roasted nuts and hints of old rope. A wide array of herbal notes as well. Definitely less petroly / phenolic than other Caroni expressions, more refined but quite complex nonetheless.
Mouth: bigger than expected, with great menthol and eucalyptus notes, sweet spearmint and medicinal touches, with a sultana / pineapple sweetness underneath. Now more ‘classic’ tarry notes too, mixed with all kinds of spices (cumin, clove, peppercorns). Herbal tea as well.
Finish: very long, herbal, bready and earthy. Rather on the dry side but I don’t have the impression that the oak is too loud.
Note: 89/100
Source: whiskynotes.be
