Caroni 1996 Trinidad - Paradise #4

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 68.1% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Paradise #4 combines tropical cask maturation with a subsequent resting period in glass. Distilled from molasses in 1996, this Heavy Trinidad Rum comes from single cask number 3786. It matured in Trinidad and Tobago until 2019. From 2019 until bottling in 2023, it was stored in Cognac in large glass demijohns known as damejeannes. This storage is distinct from further cask maturation.

The edition comprises 225 bottles, each containing 0.7 litres at 68.1% alcohol. The rum has no added colouring, is not chill-filtered and comes in gift packaging. The label features Shanna and Sita, a work by Trinidadian artist Che Lovelace, whose paintings accompany the Paradise series.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose is light and compact. Caramel and vanilla accompany bright tropical fruit notes and nectarine.
• Palate: The palate initially shows an oily texture with pronounced sweetness reminiscent of nectar and maple syrup. Tarry notes emerge as it develops, adding depth to the flavour.
• Finish: As the palate moves into the finish, acetone and lacquer notes come to the fore. The nectar-like sweetness remains alongside sweet raisins, while a slight dryness from the oak lingers.

Distillery/Bottler:

Caroni was closely tied to Trinidad's sugar industry. The distillery once belonged to the British sugar company Tate & Lyle and was nationalised in the 1970s. When the local sugar mills closed, the supply of molasses for rum production also fell sharply. The now-closed distillery left behind extensive stocks of casks.

Luca Gargano discovered these stocks in Trinidad in 2004. His company Velier, founded in Genoa in 1947, later also acquired the Caroni brand name. The Paradise series gives selected rums from these stocks a new life, pairing them with works by Che Lovelace. Caroni is the rum's original distillery; Velier is responsible for its release following the distillery's closure.

Facts: