Kill Devil Caroni 20 Year 1998 TWB

Review by: The Auditor

Review #1279; Rum #584

Here we have a another single barrel of Caroni that was bottled for The Whisky Barrel. This is a different cask than the one I tried a few days ago, so it should be fun to see how it compares. This cask of rum was distilled from molasses on a column still at the now closed Caroni distillery on Trinidad. It aged for 20 years in a mix of continental and tropical ageing in an ex-bourbon cask before it was bottled at cask strength with no additives in 2019.

Distillery: Caroni

Bottler: Kill Devil

Region: Trinidad

Still: Column

ABV: 65%

Nose: Hydraulic fluid, Vanilla, Mango, Diesel,

Palate: Medium mouthfeel, touch of heat, Hydraulic fluid, Vanilla, Diesel, touch of mango,

Finish:  Long finish. Dirty, Hydraulic fluid, mango, Diesel, Vanilla, Asphalt,

Conclusion: This is a very good rum. It’s certainly better than the other 1998 Caroni I tried recently, but it doesn’t quite live up to the more exceptional

Final Score: 85

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

Published by The Auditor

Unknown's avatar

I have drank my fair amount of single malt but got started writing reviews about Single Malt and Bourbon in 2018. Over 1000 total reviews later and I focus mainly on Sugar Cane Spirits now. However, single malt is a still a spirits category I enjoy greatly as is Agave and Brandy. I wouldn’t go as far as to call myself an expert but I am the resident Rum obsessed writer for Malt Runners.

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