Caroni 1996 Trinidad Paradise #9 Barrel #3785 (70cl, 68.9%)

Caroni Paradise #9 is a heavy Trinidad rum distilled in 1996 from molasses. It spent 23 years maturing tropically in bourbon casks in Trinidad and Tobago, then was transferred to glass demijohns and stored in the Cognac region, preserving the matured character without further wood influence. Bottled in 2024 from single cask 3785 at 68.9%, without colour or chill filtration, in a 70cl bottle with gift packaging. The nose has apricot, candied pear, mirabelle, arnica, slate, lava, iris butter, liquorice, chocolate and heather honey. The palate is smooth and lively, with petrol notes, becoming creamy and reminiscent of cane sugar, then mushrooms, creosote and dried leaves. The long silky finish shows star anise, cinnamon, clove, liquorice, bacon, Havana tobacco, petrol and powdery ginger, with dusty notes and rosewood retronasally.