The title says it all. There weren’t many expressions from 1996 that have been bottled by someone other than Velier, which is very telling, given that it is one of, if not the best vintages of Caroni ever in my book. But there are a few exceptions and today we shall have a look at a few of them.

Compagnie des Indes Caroni 1996 18YO (61%): This is another Denmark bottling. Nose: Very strange stuff. There’s a clear off-note here that is hard to pin down. It is somewhere between peach and apricot, but in a rather unpleasant, perfumed way. Other than that, it is a very dull and light (LTR, my friends) Rum which really isn’t worth too many words. Palate: Much better with a few characteristic Caroni notes but still these odd fruity notes. I wouldn’t say it is bad anymore, just very strange. Just to drop a few associations: Inner tube, vanilla, wood, peach, apricot and caramel but let’s make sure that this is not the 1996 batch we know and love! Finish: Rather short with oak, rubber, peach and pepper. There’s a nice astringency now. So this should come from the time before “best of the rest”, which means that it isn’t a good selection in my book. (73/100)

L’Esprit Caroni 1996 19YO (64,3%): Nose: Very waxy and similar in profile to the Rum above but this is better in all dimensions. That said, this should be another LTR. I get honey, beeswax, oat, unripe fruits, sugary notes and oak but very little “Caroni”. At best I could call out a hint of rubber but maybe that’s just my mind playing tricks on me. Palate: Very Scottish if you know what I mean. Cereal, and old ex-Bourbon cask, oat, honey… you name it. The question remains: Where’s my Caroni? It is a darn fine Whisky Rum but clearly not a HTR Caroni. Finish: Merely an extension of the palate, which I don’t mind, but a few more layers could have done the trick perhaps. When judged by what we’ve heard about this Rum, I am definitely disappointed, but perhaps we shouldn’t be. (81/100)

Compagnie des Indes Caroni 1996 25YO (51,5%): At this point I am basically sure that this is going to be another LTR. Nose: We were right! It is very herbal, something that we didn’t find in the other Rums. I also perceive a certain sweetness. Oak, vanilla, sugar and honey are other notes, but these herbs clearly shape the Rum’s profile. It is basically a grown up version of the 18YO Compagnie des Indes, without its faulty notes. Palate: Once again the herbs and a pronounced sweetness. Some Caronis, especially the 1996 HTRs are known for its sugary sweetness I usually describe as caramel but this is different. With the second sip I also get lots and lots of anise and mint. Finish: Medium long with mint, anise and oak. It is a solid Rum without any edges. For my liking, it could be rougher and dirtier, however. (78/100)

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