Aroma visualization from community tastings
Caroni S.B.S Trinidad HTR 1997
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Most tasters land around "very good, not quite thrilling." Cask #190 is the fruitiest and roundest of the four-cask SBS set — tar, rubber and burnt caramel up front, then dried fruit, dark chocolate and a warm spicy sweetness. A few find it a touch too sweet or slightly medicinal; several call it the softest, easiest way into Caroni's dirty, tarry world.
The community says- Classic Caroni tar
- Fruity and rounded
- Keep in mind: Can read sweet
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Buying advice
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Yes, if you're after bold, mature, oaky rums for sipping neat.
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35 rated both: 19 scored it higher, 12 scored S.B.S higher, 4 gave both the same score.
The look inside the bottle
How does Caroni S.B.S Trinidad HTR 1997 taste?
From community reviews · summarized with AI
Rounded, fruity Caroni with tar and cocoa Widely liked as a rounded, fruit-forward Caroni that hides its 63% well. Some wanted more of the classic "dirty" edge; a couple found it oddly sweet and burnt.
Fans of Caroni's tarry, dried-fruit style
Anyone wanting a clean, sweet, easy sipper
Style & occasion: Mature & oakySipping neat
Full aroma profile Aroma families · nose & palate · top aromas
Relative to this rum's strongest aroma family
34 of 77 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Which glass for which rum? The community guide ›
What does the community say?
77 community reviews
Rating scale & review checks
On RumX, 7 means “Good” and 8 means “Very good”.
See the full rating guideHow ratings are made and how we check them ›The website shows a selection of written reviews. The distribution also includes ratings without text. All published reviews are available in the RumX app.
26 selected written reviews
The distribution above includes all 77 ratings, including those without text.
Review by cigares
Most helpful positive review
The famous S.B.S. single cask tasting. Cask # 190. The fruitiest nose of the four, but still with typical Caroni notes. The palate, too, is very fruity, with the Caroni aromas coming next. I feel a weakness in the mid-palate. The only fruity finish of the series. Empty glass: the aromas are a little too discreet. A few points below casks #53, #216 as less balanced.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Most helpful mixed review
Unfortunately, I do not like it at all. Very pungent spicy, medicinal bitter and very unusual sweet and dirty at the same time without much harmony to have...
Review by DomM
For the set: 53=193 > 216 > 190
Review by TheRhumhoe
The comparison is between 4 Caronis Single Cask 1997 from SBS. This Caroni starts well enough, with a nose of caramel, cola and brown sugar. This sweetness overhangs the heavy, dirty elements typical of Trinidad, but finds itself playing with leather, roasted and spicy notes and nuts. The fruitiness is rather light. A nose that could fool a lover of Latin rums. The palate falls a little short of expectations. The caramel and sweetness are there, with a hint of smoke and spice, but an almost watery mouthfeel spoils the taste pleasure. Dark chocolate and machine shop come through more timidly. The alcohol could have been better integrated. The finish suffers on the palate and fades rather quickly. Warm caramel, chocolate and drier notes of spices, leather and empyreumatic flavors (smoky, roasted) are present. The mechanical workshop has disappeared in favor of medicinal notes that struggle to turn things around. On the whole, this is a straightforward Caroni that's not all that distinctive, lacking the weapons to compete.
Review by zabo
The rum is part of a set: Cask 53, Cask 190, Cask 193 and Cask 216. #190 is the most palatable for me so far. For what the set costs or used to cost, it is an absolutely top PLV. Some newer bottlings can think about their price.
Review by Timo Groeger
Also a very successful bottling from S.B.S. Has a spicy and woody nose, in which brown sugar stands out above all. The brown sugar is also very present on the palate, the alcohol is well integrated, otherwise I would never have guessed 63%.
Review by Felix Reiber
What a likeable Caroni. As some have already described, barrel 190 has many wonderfully fruity and floral tones in addition to the Caroni profile. In my case, mirabelle plum and rose geranium are prominent. The palate is very powerful, full-bodied and, in addition to the lovely sweetness, has a pleasant and warm spiciness. Again, lots of tropical fruits, dark chocolate, caramel and something roasted in the transition to the earthy part. The finish is long and powerful. Wood, spice, leather and vanilla. Then fruity and earthy aromas again, which fade out with a little tobacco. If you like Caroni anyway, you'll love this one. A clear recommendation!
Review by Tim
Cask 190 is probably the roundest and most pleasing Caroni in this S.B.S set. At the beginning there is a hint of smoke/tar, then the most fruit and caramel on the nose, plus more typical Agricole notes. Dry, spicy and strong in the mouth, but still mild enough. Delicious fruit and cocoa on the finish. Good rum, but the price is too high and owed to the Caroni name.
Review by Serge
I really like the SBS Caroni set. Incredible PLV and rather unsweet and unfruity. The rums are not over-dirty but because they are not so sweet and fruity the workshop side comes into its own. I like all 4 very much.
Review by Pavel Spacek
... Caroni is a distillery from Trinidad, producing rum at the height of its fame, which 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.
Review by Jarek
Oh, very tasty. On the nose, the typical Caroni notes of rubber and tar, but also lots of fruit. The fruity notes come to the fore on the palate and in the finish. Very drinkable and a very good introduction to the world of Caroni.
Review by Joachim Guger
A nice, balanced Caroni nose, nicely fruity and a great cocoa powder (100%) note. 63% and still drinkable. In the mouth it's woodier, crispy and the alcohol stings a little. A little short in the finish for Caroni. Yes, there are more exciting Caronis, but if you want to buy a bottle for relaxed drinking, 1997 is a very good choice. 4/10 on the Caroni madness scale.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
This rum is part of a four cask selection set. Cask 53, cask 190, cask 193 and cask 216. This particular cask burns less in the alcohol than cask 193 and also more dry. A very balanced and pleasant experience that for some may need a few drops of water.
Review by Master P
Cask 190 S.B.S Set, at first briefly smoke/tar, then mostly fruit and caramel on the nose, plus dark chocolate notes. In the mouth dry, spicy and strong, but still mild enough. In the finish delicious fruits and cocoa. Briefly sharp alcohol.
Review by DaveLamb
A little beast is the best way to describe it. It's not great, but worth a try.The tasting feel is not bad among caroni(especial that not HTR).
Review by Martin Ekrt
In the nose, a delicate fruitiness blends, mainly apple, vanilla, and cinnamon. Quite a Foursquare profile, but those dirty technical notes also peek through. On the palate, I ride a similar note. Very pleasant rum with a slight technical hint.
Review by ChristophFFM
It's missing that certain something for perfection. 1/4
Review by Fuwi
Cask #190 is very drinkable, offers great, dense aromas as soon as it is poured, and the famous Caroni tire burns against you. This subsides after a while, it remains warm and strong with great fruit flavors and great spice with very well-rounded alcohol
Review by F.L.O.
Integral comparison tasting 2024: To finish, a Caroni, fits like a glove :-) The nose is very nice, classic Caroni style. On the tongue, the expectation from the nose also appears, dry, dirt, fruit,... bon appétit!
Review by Christoph
For me, it's a less than ideal Caroni, as on the one hand it's too well-behaved and lacks the dirtiness, while on the other it tastes unpleasantly burnt and too sugary.
Review by Tim Reiber
Once again a very complex and intense Caroni, but far too expensive. A powerful nose reminiscent of dark dried fruit, old wood, polish and juniper. Later you get burnt sugar, cognac and even baked duck on the nose Surprisingly sweet and very intense on the palate. I taste strong herbs, wood, berries, overripe fruit, juniper, leather and sour cherry. The very long finish has dark wood, liquorice, juniper, sweetness and cognac. I perceive mineral aromas, iodine and indefinable dark berries in the background. A beautiful product with a poor PL ratio.
Review by Harald
Aroma: Initially alcoholically sharp with woody aromas. Opens up after it has stood for a while. Aromas of tar and furniture polish, medicinal, rubber, diesel. Taste: Strong and intense. Significantly less sweet than Cask 193 - no honey, no tropical fruits. Instead, medicinal with lots of wood and dry. Finish: Long Woody and dry with some caramel. Dry and slightly bitter on the finish.
Review by Richard Krupa
Sourness at the beginning, unexpected sweetness at the end. In between, a distinct oil and wood. Blend Filip #53, #190, #193 and #216
Review by Michael Janek
21.1.2025 Smells like mangrove, a bit of peat, later it fades and smells of chocolate and wood, then again smoky peat On the palate first it tingles the lips, then thousands of needles shoot out in all directions, then a honey flavor spreads, long-lasting It's a brutal, murderous brute, simply Caroni
Review by Pavel Ungr, RumRock
Vintage 1997. I rate it 8.9 out of 10, an excellent rum that ranks high even among my more than 1,300 ratings.
Review by Rhum Mirror 🇧🇪
SBS – Caroni HTR 1997 – 63 % Heading to Trinidad and Tobago, the legendary Caroni distillery (RIP 💀). Aged 18 years, bottled at cask strength at 63% (Cask 190). 👃 Nose: Pure Caroni — dirty, tar, tires, glue, fruity cherry. 👅 Palate: still Caroni, devilishly charming and fruity on a base of rubber and burnt caramel. ➡️ My opinion: despite the pleasure, personal preference for the TBRC 1997.
This selection contains no written reviews in this rating range.
Expert reviews
2 critics scored it, averaging 8.7/10. Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum.
Expert review by Single Cask Rum
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Expert review by L'amateur éclairé
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Expert review by The Dunder Hut
Caroni S.B.S Trinidad HTR 1997 at live auctions
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90 bottles logged by 66 collectors.
Both drunk and collected.
24% opened, 13 emptied.
What did the community pay for Caroni S.B.S Trinidad HTR 1997?
Community paid 49–343 €.
Purchase prices reported by members, not a shop price. Avg. 191 €. Full price & collection history in RX+ ›
90 purchased · 77 tasted · 20 wishlist · as of
Details about Caroni S.B.S Trinidad HTR 1997
A Column Still Rum from Trinidad, bottled by 1423 World Class Spirits, at 63%.
Read on in the RumX Guide
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