Berry Brothers & Rudd, Caroni
ABV: 46%
Country: Trinidad
Age: 18 year
Cask: Unknown
Still: Unknown
Price: £140 (at Auction)
Distillery: Caroni
Despite shutting down more than 20 years ago in 2002, the Caroni distillery continues to make noise within the rum world! With price tags usually exceeding the £300 mark and some rare bottlings exceeding £1000 it’s safe to say that these rums, once forgotten in a warehouse, continue to be well sought after… Imagine my surprise when I picked up a bottle at auction for significantly less than the norm – it may be a lower ABV but the bold profile of the Caroni remains.
Nose
Dust her off because damn, she’s old! Strap yourself in (pun intended) because there is leather on leather on leather – think of a stables tack room!
Acetone/Polish with a hint of cherry breaks through. Doing this blind I’m expecting some port or px involvement.
Palate
This is rich and bold and full of flavour – I find so many things jumping out at me for attention! Walnut toffee, Oat cranberry/cherry/raisin cookies, and slightly overcooked (read; rock hard) flapjack.
Rich molasses offering a tartness that is red and juicy (again that port or sherry from the nose).
The finish is shorter than I would have expected (maybe down to the slightly lower ABV) but there is a lasting dusty leather with banana skin making a fleeting visit sitting right in the middle of my tongue.
9/10 – As much as I would love to see this at 52/54%? This really is how this rum was meant to be drank.
My scoring system, explained
- 10: Exceptional. This is best in class and a firm favourite of mine.
- 9: Outstanding. Near perfection, a bottle I would be sad to finish (and very happy to restock!)
- 8: Excellent. An evening spent sipping this would be a very good one.
- 7: Great. Add to cart, no questions asked.
- 6: Very good. At the right price I would definitely buy a bottle.
- 5: Good. If someone poured me a glass you wouldn’t hear me complain.
- 4: Above average. Not quite good but better than some.
- 3: Average. Average at best, this isn’t offensive but equally not exciting either.
- 2: Not for me. This simply means it’s not a profile I find enjoyable; rather than a reflection of quality.
- 1: Not the spirit. This is a poor representation of the spirit.
