Caroni 2000 17 Year Rum (Velier)

There’s Brora, and then there’s all other whiskey. There’s Porsche, and then there’s all other cars. There’s Caroni...and then there’s all other rum. Someone generously shared a pour of this with me. After the week we're experiencing, I wanted to try a spirit from a closed distillery, just in case we don't make it through the next few weeks. More realistically, this week has been particularly challenging—I'm leading our company's COVID task force. Fifteen-hour days managing chaos, so I wanted to open this sample of a rare, closed spirit. What's unique about this is that it's fully matured in Trinidad—imagine the evaporation rate in that climate! But despite that, it doesn't taste like you're licking a piece of oak. It has a certain funk to it—like the smell of diesel fuel in a chocolate factory. In a good way. Taste—almond skins, raisins, cocoa. Is this rum?? Needless to say—this is a rarity, and even if I tasted this blind, it would still be a 4.5-5 star drink. Furthermore—I'd have guessed Springbank...not a rum. Thanks to the person who shared it with me—and a special cheers to you, since you're probably facing the front lines of COVID in the ER or hospital.

Fantastic spirit with hints of exotic fruit, raisins, caramel, baking spices, and a touch of chocolate.