Caroni - Boutique-y Rum Company - For Kirsch 1998 - 58,1%
Photo taken at Roche Bobois Stuttgart
First of all, what were those three guys thinking when slapping their ordinary faces on the holy boutique-y label? What happened to the lovely dogs, cats, superheros, film scenes and witches?! So nasty, Stefan, Jürgen and Christoph! And just look at their kitschy Clairin shirts (it's only jealousy, we know). Anyway, 1998 is not our preferred Caroni Vintage. Too rough, too much petrol, just like those three Kirsch boys. So we'll keep an extra close eye on this dram.
Nose
What..wait a moment! Mentholated chocolate, parsley, thyme, essential oils, Axe Deo, some glue and melted butter. This ain't no petrol can, but a hybrid of Angostura (the good ones), Damoiseau and some drops of Caroni 1996 Guyana stock. Plus the most herbal Caroni nose we've had in the glass so far. Definitely not one of the Dirty Trinidad section, which could disappoint some of the bicycle tube hardliners, but we on the other hand highly welcome it. After some time a very slight dirtiness arises, but not of rubber, more like farmy Islay peat, Bowmore style. No complaints Sir, we appreciate that bouquet. With water: Some sour cherries just popped in.
Palate
Delicate and creamy cherry sweetness meets new bicycle rubber. There it is! But not unpleasant. Add carob and filter coffee. Add After Eight Chocolate. Add cherries. Add amaretto and a few dashes of thyme oil. Throw a new eraser into the juice. Stirr. Ready is the heavy bodied, magic potion. It's a bit sharp though. With water: Getting perceptibly thinner. Better skip that water.
Finish
Medium long for a Caroni, but long enough for a continental one. The black cherries clearly set the agenda.
Rating
A very unusual Caroni, especially for this vintage. To be frank, we would prefer this fellow over quite a few tropical 1998ies and 2000's expressions from Velier. It's balanced and complex and has a pleasant sweetness. You just turned the corner, Kirsch Boys! Finally, we wonder if a few ladles of Angostura might have found their way into the barrel..
