Velier Caroni 4th Employees Dayanand „Yunkoo“ Balloon 1998

This Velier Caroni 1998 honours Dayanand Balloon, one of the distillery's former employees, in the series dedicated to the people behind the legendary Trinidad operation. Caroni closed in 2003, and Velier's tropically aged, full proof bottlings of its rescued casks are the reason its heavy rum became so mythologised. This Heavy mark is 22 years old.

Matured at origin in ex-bourbon oak and bottled at a brutal 68.3% with no sweetening, it is among the most intense of its vintage: tar, rubber and smoky wood dominate the nose and palate, lifted by mango, dried fruit, menthol and vanilla, with a smoky, tannic, tarry finish. At this strength it is fierce on first pour and genuinely needs rest and air to reveal its depth. For drinkers already devoted to heavy Caroni, it stands as a benchmark 1998 Employee bottling, rewarding patience with striking concentration once it settles.