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Thompson Bros. Caroni HTR 1998
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Surprise here: this Caroni comes in lighter and more polite than the fire-breathing Velier bottlings people expect. The classic markers are all present — rubber, tar, vanilla, dark chocolate — but softer, easier to sip. Several tasters found it a touch metallic and short on depth; a few called it one of the dirtier '98s once it opened up. Wood takes charge on the palate.
The community says- Classic Caroni markers
- Long dry finish
- But: Lacks depth
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The look inside the bottle
How does Thompson Bros. Caroni HTR 1998 taste?
Summarized by AI from 31 community reviews.
Softer, tamer Caroni with classic rubber and tar Well-made and easy-drinking for a Caroni, with the usual rubber and tar dialed back. Most enjoyed it, though several felt it lacks the intensity and depth of top vintage bottlings.
Caroni fans who want a gentler, more sippable take
Anyone chasing the heavy, dirty industrial Caroni punch
Style & occasion: Mature & oakySipping neat
Full aroma profile Aroma families · nose & palate · top aromas
15 of 31 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
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Community voices
What does the community say?
31 community reviews
14 selected write-ups on this page, all of them in the RumX app
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Ranges include their upper bound: “7–8” means above 7 up to and including 8. See the full rating guide
Positive from 8.0 · Mixed 6.0–7.9 · Critical below 6.0
Review by LukaŽiga
Most helpful positive review
8,7:On the nose, tar, polish and rubber, some menthol, roasted wood notes with dark chocolate, caramel, roasted nuts, the presence of oak is obvious, spicy with allspice, cherries, pineapple, dried fruits and lemon, bump into our nosetrils. On aeration, fruitiness grows stronger with yellow fruits, orange and berries, the molasses is slightly vegetal. 8,6:On the palate, the attack is typical with roasted wood notes like roasted nuts, butterscotch, burnt sugar, some confectionery, soicy vanilla, industrial with rubber, bicycle tube, some menthol, slightly metallic, fruity with lemon, dried apricots and figs.The molasses is herbaceous, dark with licorice, on oxidation, strong roastedness brings smoky touch, mocha and dark chocolate. 8,4:The finish is long, dry&tannic, dirty, industrial, fruity and creamy with various roasted wood notes, the barrel impact is strong. Edit:21.12.25
Review by Henry Davies
Most helpful mixed review
It does not have the classic firey Caroni profile from the velier tropical aged releases. A much more approachable rum and if that is better or worse will be in the views of the drinker. A rather elegant nose with a strong vanilla vein, some caramel and the faintest hint of rubber (maybe I was looking for it). The mouth is fairly restrained, strong mouthwash and menthol notes, with green apple and spearmint, alongside some spicy barrel notes. The finish brings bicycle tubes and a warm nutty finish that goes on for some time. It’s a good rum, a bit unusual to be honest and not a typical Caroni
Review by Oliver
Quite accessible nose, with typical dirty notes plus lots of vanilla and caramel. On the palate, some smoke and coffee come through.
Review by cigares
First RumX meeting. Un nez un peu en retrait mais avec les marqueurs Caroni de 1998, atelier mécanique, bois de chêne et douceur. Un nez tout en largeur mais auquel il manque un peu d’intensité et de profondeur pour égaler les meilleurs. L’entrée de bouche est légèrement acqueuse malgré l’ABV plutôt haut. Mais tout de suite une belle montée en puissance. Fruits, douceur et atelier mécanique à égalité. Chocolat noir, vanille, fumée et fût de chêne. La finale est longue, très longue, toujours avec cet équilibre bois fumé, atelier mécanique et douceur vanillée. Un très beau rhum auquel il manque un peu d’expression et de puissance aromatique.
Review by DomM
One of the more dirty 98 expressions. Dirt, Espresso with hints of red fruits.
Review by Vincent D
A very soft and velvety profile on this rum with vanilla and caramel, chocolate as well as soft fruits. I thought of the Velier Royal Navy batch 1 in a light and fruity version. It's very pleasant. It makes you want more. On the palate, a very different impression. The cask appears. Vanilla is still there. A smoky impression, chocolate. And a strange metallic taste. Not unpleasant. But I expected something else given the nose. Rather long finish with a big bitterness. It's good because it's a very particular profile. But I remain a bit unsatisfied because I find it generally lacks depth. With a more punchy side, it would have been killer. Edit: metallic note present that bothers me but otherwise super pleasant. A rather smooth HTR despite its dark side.
Review by Alex1981
//update: after some time in the bottle getting more intense and heavier, dirtier notes. Rated up a bit. Light Caroni without the typical heavy industrial notes. Surprisingly fruity nose, mixed with some tarnish, spices & vanilla notes. On the palate the fruits take a backseat and the wood takes control. Unfortunately not enough flavors to counter this and stays a weaker Caroni.
Review by Thunderbird
A well made rum, but for a good Caroni lacks intensity! I miss the typical notes!
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
#6591 02.04.2026 Sitting in the cabin relaxing with an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. A pretty good bottling with a nice mint note to it. The nose is medium intense with wood, diesel, rubber, light tar, cherry and mint. The palate is intense and warm with roasted wood, rubber, tar, light dried fruit, light tobacco and a medicinal touch. The finish is very long and dry with roated wood, tobacco, leather and light tar and rubber.
Review by mto75
Solid 98 Caroni.
Review by zabo
Also a very pleasing Caroni. Not quite as dirty, easier to enjoy. Edit: re-tasted, but it remains an entertaining Caroni. Not quite as round. Corrected downward
Review by Christian Rudt
Nice and accessible on the nose, then on the palate the nice Caroni hit. Plenty of rubber in the taste, but it doesn't come across as dirty as elsewhere. Nice to sip.
Review by Alexander Rasch
I am a big fan of the 98 Caronis. The Thompson has the typical maker notes but also shows a pretty wild side. On the palate, a bit too much sharpness and cask influence for me. The sweet caramel notes are also very pronounced. A good rum, but not a TOP representative of this vintage for me.
Review by Pavel Spacek
... Caroni is a distillery from Trinidad, producing at the height of its fame rum that was added in a ratio of 1:10 to naval blends. It was too strong and strange to be pleasant on the tongue. In 2000 the distillery ended production and was closed. Only in 2010 did tasters appear who liked the rum precisely for its special taste. And interest grew. Caroni belongs to the category of rums "you need to try before you die". I recommend it, Caroni is really a unique rum.
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Community shelf
19 bottles logged by 16 collectors.
A collector's bottle.
5% opened, 1 emptied.
What did the community pay for Thompson Bros. Caroni HTR 1998?
Community paid 225–359 €.
Purchase prices reported by members, not a shop price. Avg. 279 €. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
19 purchased · 32 tasted · 4 wishlist · as of
Details about Thompson Bros. Caroni HTR 1998
A Column Still Rum from Trinidad, bottled by Thompson Bros., at 59.2%.
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