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

Caroni 1997 Spirits Shop' Selection / The Legend Collection

Lot: 5054

Caroni 1997 Spirits Shop' Selection / The Legend Collection

Winning Bid: £260

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: 
N/A
Vintage: 
1997
Region: 
Trinidad
Bottler: 
Spirits Shop' Selection
Cask Type: 
bourbon barrel
Bottled Strength: 
63.8%
Bottle Size: 
70cl
Distillery Status: 
Closed
Production method: 
N/A
Base: 
molasses
product Details

Caroni 1997 Spirits Shop' Selection / The Legend Collection

The Caroni distillery is said to have been established in 1918, however there are several historical references that suggest distilling was happening there earlier in the 20th century. It became part of the Tate & Lyle firm in 1936, who used it as a base for expanding their eventually considerable sugar operations in Trinidad. Caroni was a key ingredient of the British Navy rations, where its famous high-ester 'Heavy' rums helped to make up the signature flavour. Sadly, with the decline of the Trinidadian sugar industry, the island’s remaining rum producers became increasingly dependent upon imported molasses, making distilling less economical. Tate & Lyle sold a 51% controlling stake to the Trinidadian government in 1970, before it became fully nationalised in 1975. The newly established Caroni Ltd continued to lose money for the next 25 years until the government tried to minimise its ownership, selling off 49% of its share, just enough to retain control. Angostura were the preferred bidders, but a dispute over the value of Caroni’s warehoused stock scuppered the deal, and Caroni was closed for good in 2003.

A 1997 vintage, bottled for Spirits Shop' Selection's The Legend Collection in 2018. Matured in bourbon barrel #65, this is one of only 220 bottles. 

The Spirits Shop’ Selection was founded in Taiwan in 2014 by Dong Fang Ming. His goal was to create an “East-West cultural exchange,” importing the finest Scotch whiskies and rum, and bottling them with elegant Asian influenced label designs. The company worked in collaboration with Sansibar Whisky in Germany for their earliest releases, before striking out as their own standalone brand.

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.