Caroni 1997 / 24 Year Old / Elizabeth Yard arrives with the kind of quiet confidence that comes from knowing exactly what it is. This 24-year-old Caroni rum, distilled in 1997 and aged in a single cask at the now-closed Caroni Distillery in Trinidad, offers a rich profile of spices, vanilla sweet. At £350.00, it sits in a competitive bracket, but does it justify its place on the shelf?
Distilled at Caroni Distillery, this premium rum reflects a commitment to craft that is evident from the first pour. Trinidad & Tobago has a proud distilling heritage, and this bottling carries that legacy forward.
Tasting Notes
On the nose, Caroni 1997 / 24 Year Old / Elizabeth Yard presents Christmas cake, beeswax, walnut oil, vintage port. It is an inviting and well-composed aromatic profile that draws you into the glass with each return.
The palate delivers dark chocolate ganache, cigar leaf, fig and date, candied walnut, silk-smooth oak. The mouthfeel is medium to full-bodied with satisfying weight, with each sip revealing new layers of complexity. There is an elegance here that justifies the price point — every element feels considered and deliberately placed.
The finish is exceptionally long with oak and leather. It is a finish that rewards patience and invites contemplation — the hallmark of a truly accomplished spirit.
How to Serve
This is a rum that demands to be savoured neat, perhaps with a single drop of water to coax out the more elusive notes hiding behind the oak. Any mixer would be a disservice to the years of maturation and craft that have gone into this bottle. Pour it into a Glencairn or a brandy balloon, take your time, and appreciate every nuance as it evolves in the glass.
The Verdict
Caroni 1997 / 24 Year Old / Elizabeth Yard earns a well-deserved 9 out of 9 on our scale, reflecting an exceptional spirit that stands out in even the most competitive company. At £350.00, it represents a serious investment, but one that delivers commensurate quality, complexity, and memorability. A worthy representative of Trinidad & Tobago's rum-making tradition, and a bottle we would happily recommend.
