Caroni RA Rum HTR 1998

Rum Artesanal is a German bottler working in the unsweetened, full-proof tradition, and here it turns to Caroni, the Trinidad distillery that closed in 2003 and became rum's most collectible closed name. This single cask comes from the heavy 1998 vintage, a column still spirit tropically aged 20 years and bottled at 64.3%.

Tropical maturation in a single ex-bourbon cask gives a classic dirty-but-balanced reading of the style. The aroma leads with leather, rubber, vanilla and oak, the palate turns leathery and smoky with spice and tobacco, and the finish stays oaky and tarry. Toffee, dark chocolate and berries soften the edges, and the alcohol is well integrated for the proof. Unsweetened and squarely in the classic 1998 mould, it offers an accessible yet powerful entry into heavy Caroni for drinkers ready to step into the style.