Duncan Taylor Caroni Single Cask Rum HTR 1997

Duncan Taylor, the Scottish whisky house, selected this single cask of Caroni distilled in 1997 and held sixteen years at cask strength. It is one of the prized heavy marks from the closed Trinidad distillery, drawn from a pot still and bottled with no added sugar from the stock that made Caroni legendary after Velier's rescue.

Matured in ex-bourbon oak from molasses, it shows caramel, toasted notes, toffee and molasses on the nose, then caramel, oak, herbal and bitter tones on the palate, closing with spice, oak, caramel and anise. At 56.4% it is well balanced at full strength, but a few drops of water release waxed wood, fruit, coffee and orange not present neat. It carries all the markers a heavy Caroni should, tar, honey and workshop notes, in a complex, layered form. A rewarding pour for those who like their Caroni dirty, deep and ex-bourbon driven.