The Duchess Caroni Nautilus 1991

The Duchess, a European independent, bottled this single cask Caroni from the 1991 vintage, a 31 year release at cask strength. Caroni is the closed Trinidad distillery, production ended around 2003, and the older 1991 casks tend to show a more mature, restrained side of its finite, much-prized stock.

Matured in ex-bourbon oak across three decades, this is a lighter, more refined Caroni: the nose offers chocolate, citrus, light rubber, smoke and walnut, then yellow fruit, vanilla and chocolate on the palate with the tar and rubber kept subtle, finishing woody, mineral and gently burnt. Balanced and well integrated, it drinks easily for 54.1%, sitting comfortably between an old TDL and a heavier Caroni. A mellow, characterful pour for drinkers chasing mature Trinidad profiles without the full workshop intensity, best enjoyed slowly.