This is the Caroni 1998 rum hand-picked by Diego Sandrin, bottled at the age of 24 in a limited edition of 220 bottles in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Lion’s Whisky. Type: Rum Region: Trinidad Distillery: Caroni Distilled: 1998 Bottled: 2022 Bottled by: Distilia for Lion’s Whisky Age: 24yo Strength: 61,6% Size: 700 ml Number of bottles produced: 220 Single cask Full Proof Heavy Trinidad Rum Tasting notes whiskyfun.com 91/100 points A little tip, perhaps, anniversary bottlings are usually of superior quality because no one would like to celebrate with something sub-standard. Makes sense, no? Colour: amber. NOSE: those lethal smells that we enjoy so much in heavy Caronis. Nothing is normal here, it’s all either rotten or rotting, full of petrol, horse saddle and sweat, fermenting plums, cigars and, probably, small dead animals. Like bacteria. With water: carbon, old books, old stove, pickled porcini and whatnot. MOUTH (neat): eucalyptus wood infused with black olive brine, more petrol, coal tar, turpentine and just brake fluid and dust. With water: just perfectly great, its time you call the Anti-Rumporn Brigade. FINISH: ultra-long, with some pencil lead, coal, ashes, black olives, plastic, salted liquorice… Comments: crazy and even better when Luca Gargano tells you the stories about Caroni. They should add a QR code to every label, which would link to some video of his. In the meantime, we’re content with this dazzlingly rotten Caroni.