April Auction starts Friday 12 April. Bottle deadline 8 April.

Caroni 1996 Velier 23 Year Old Full Proof Heavy / 'The Last Caroni'

Lot: 2744

Caroni 1996 Velier 23 Year Old Full Proof Heavy / 'The Last Caroni'

Winning Bid: £331

Currency Estimate

Important: Currency exchange rates are constantly changing; this feature is to be used as a guide price only. All final transactions occur in British Pounds (£).
Lot:
Distillery: 
Caroni
Age: 
23 year old
Vintage: 
1996
Region: 
Trinidad
Bottler: 
Velier
Cask Type: 
N/A
Bottled Strength: 
61.9%
Bottle Size: 
70cl
Distillery Status: 
Closed
Production method: 
Column still
Base: 
molasses
product Details

Caroni 1996 Velier 23 Year Old Full Proof Heavy / 'The Last Caroni'

Established in 1923 on the site of the sugar factory for which it was named, Caroni was a key ingredient of British Navy rations, where it's famous high ester 'Heavy' rums help to make up the signature flavour. Sadly, with the decline of the Trinidadian sugar industry, the Islands distillers became more and more dependent upon imported molasses, making distilling less and less economical. The writing then, was already on the wall when in 2001 the Trinidadian government sold a 49% share in the holding company to Angostura. Caroni was shuttered in 2002 and a behemoth of flavour was lost to the world.

Thankfully, in 2004, Luca Gargano discovered the ossuary of Caroni's warehouses filled with barrels of the legendary heavy rum, quietly ageing. Since then we have seen a number of outstanding releases, proving increasingly popular with collectors and drinkers alike.

This is the culmination of Gargano's labour of love, the 39th and final Caroni release from Velier.

This is a blend of 24 barrels of heavy rum, aged in Trinidad until 2008, and Guyana until 2019 when it was bottled.

Important Notice

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Please note: Due to the various ages of bottles and their seals, condition of liquid is at the buyer's discretion and no claim can be lodged against failure/leakage in transit.