Bristol Caroni HTR 1974

Roger Caroni sent us his favourite rums from the closed Caroni distillery.

Best for: Caroni lovers and fans of tarry, industrial old rum
Loved almost across the board. The only real gripe is the reduction to 46% — tasters agree full-proof would've been an all-time bottle, but the nose and fruit still shine.

Best for: Deep Caroni fans who love tar, rubber and heavy tropical age
Beloved as one of the greatest old Caronis — heavy tar, rubber, wood and a playful sweetness, with a long finish. A handful say the very best 96ers edge it on complexity.

Best for: Caroni devotees who love tar, rubber and heavy tropical aging
A tropically aged 1996 Caroni tasters rate highly — tar, rubber and dark fruit with real depth. Most say it's one of the better Employees; a few find it slightly too fierce.


Best for: Caroni devotees who love dirty, tarry, wood-forward heavy rum
Loved for its heavy tar-and-rubber intensity, though several note the wood turns bitter and drying. Needs long air; a handful found it too oaky, but most rate it very highly.


Best for: Fans of dirty, empyreumatic Caroni tar and rubber
A widely loved 1998 Caroni — tar, rubber and dried fruit, well balanced and rated above the 12 and 15. Some find it a touch light and toned down versus high-end bottlings.
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