Caroni 1996 21 Year Old Extra Strong Trinidad Rum Bottled 2017 - Velier 70cl / 57.18%

A bottle of Caroni 21 Year Old Extra Strong Trinidad Rum. This was distilled in 1996 and bottled in 2017 for Velier. The label is a reproduction of an original from 1940, chosen to commemorate the golden age of Trinidad rum.

The Caribbean island of Trinidad was once to home to more than 50 distilleries, today just one remains. Caroni is one of the island's lost distilleries, having closed its doors for good in 2002. It was established in 1923 and utilised both pot and column stills to produce the characteristic 'heavy' rum it has since become known for. The distillery supplied rum to the British Navy for many years and the raw materials were sourced from its own sugar refinery. In an unpopular move, the Trinidad government sold a 49% share of Rum Distillers Limited to Angostura, and the Caroni distillery closed a year later. Shortly after its closure, Luca Gargano of Italian spirits company Velier discovered hundreds of barrels of maturing Caroni rum, some dating back 30 years. These casks were purchased and bottled, 'Caronimania' took hold and the rum rapidly gained cult status amongst spirits fans.

This Caroni 1996 21 Year Old Extra Strong Trinidad Rum sold at our online auction for £250