Caroni 1998 Heavy Trinidad - Paradise #2

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 56.3% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Paradise #2 stands out for its move from tropical cask maturation to storage in glass demijohns. Caroni distilled this Heavy Trinidad Rum from molasses in 1998. The rum from cask 3918 remained in Trinidad until 2019, after which it was stored in Cognac in vessels known as dame-jeannes. This brought any further influence from the cask wood to an end. It was bottled in 2022 at 56.3%.

This single cask yielded 230 bottles. The presentation features Large Dancer, a work by Trinidadian artist Che Lovelace; Massimo Lunardon designed the bottle in Italy. The rum comes in gift packaging and is neither coloured nor chill-filtered.

Alongside its creamy fruitiness, Paradise #2 reveals the darker side of the Heavy Trinidad style. Molasses, mint and green apple complement the caramel notes, while oak and spices provide a drier counterpoint to the tropical fruit. Guava, floral nuances and tar broaden the aromatic range.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose combines caramel-filled chocolates and vanilla pods with juicy apples, pears and mango. Orange blossom adds a floral accent, while a subtle tar note complements the aromas.
• Palate: The rum is full-bodied and creamy on the palate. Sweet vanilla cream and sticky toffee meet homemade lemonade and fresh fruit. A hint of black pepper adds a spicy counterpoint.
• Finish: Ripe fruit and cream notes linger for a long time. Heavy, dark nuances remain in the background as the rum fades.

Distillery/Bottler:

Caroni began operating in Trinidad in 1918 and was connected to a sugar refinery. The distillery became particularly known for its aromatically heavy rums. No new spirits have been distilled there since its closure in 2002; Paradise #2 comes from the surviving cask stocks.

Following Luca Gargano's discovery in 2004, Velier introduced the remaining Caroni stocks to a new audience. For the Paradise series, selected rums were stored in glass demijohns in the Cognac region after their tropical cask maturation. The series name draws on the local tradition of keeping particularly precious old spirits in a paradis. The connection with Che Lovelace's art also leads back to the distillery's homeland.

Facts: