Overview
Brand: Berry Bros. & Rudd
Origin: Caroni Distillery, Trinidad & Tobago (picked by TheWhiskyBarrel.com)
Still: Column
Age: 19 years
Finish: ex-Bourbon*
ABV: 55%
This offering from Berry Bros. & Rudd is a special bottling. It was selected by and bottled for The Whisky Barrel, an online store offering a selection of fine whiskies and rums, in celebration of their 10th anniversary (I wish I could celebrate all my anniversaries with a single cask of Caroni!).
Berry Bros. & Rudd Caroni 19 year old was originally distilled by Caroni in 1997– a celebrated vintage among collectors– using one of their column stills. This single cask #165 was presumably an ex-Bourbon cask, which was aged for 19 years; at some point this landed in the hands of Berry Bros. & Rudd, most likely from a third party broker, so the tropical/continental aging split is not known. The rum was eventually bottled at a strength of 55% ABV.
I picked this up during a sale on TheWhiskyBarrel.com, as a big birthday gift to myself earlier this year. I was happy to get this at a steal of a price, esepecially with it being from 1997, which is noted for (often) exhibiting the notes expected of heavier Caroni like tire fire, diesel fuel, and pungent rotting red fruits.
Appearance
Dark chestnut, medium viscosity
Nose
Diesel gasoline, burnt rubber, black cherry pits, raspberry jam, caramelized brown sugar, hint of peppermint
Palate
Overripe raspberries, diesel gas, burnt rubber, black cherry, cumin, vanilla, flamed orange peel
Finish
Long, warm, industrial; tar fumes, raspberries, black cherry pit, vanilla
Rating: 10/10
Summary
There really isn't anything like Caroni, and I'll say that I firmly believe this is my favorite of the lost distillery's rum that I've tried. It's got the classic industrial tar/diesel/tire fire notes one expects, while also letting the fruity side of Trinidad rum come through.
Diesel and rubber come off the front of the nose, which is complimented by fruity black cherry and raspberry notes. Caramelized brown sugar is hidden behind some layers, as is a hint of peppermint. The palate is initially lead by overripe raspberries before being enveloped in diesel and burnt rubber again. Black cherry, cumin, vanilla, and flamed orange peel lead into a long, warming, and industrial finish.
This is definitely a 10/10 for me. As someone that loves a good tire fire Caroni, this checks that box, while also showing some of the fruitier side, all in a highly drinkable package. Well done TWB and Berry Bros. for selecting a fantastic and rare single barrel.