Caroni Employees 2nd Releases 2 x 70cl / Kevon 'Slippery' Moreno & David 'Sarge' Charran
Established in 1923 on the site of the sugar factory for which it was named, Caroni was a key ingredient of British Navy rations, where it's famous high ester 'Heavy' rums help to make up the signature flavour. Sadly, with the decline of the Trinidadian sugar industry, the Islands distillers became more and more dependent upon imported molasses, making distilling less and less economical. The writing then, was already on the wall when in 2001 the Trinidadian government sold a 49% share in the holding company to Angostura. Caroni was shuttered in 2002 and a behemoth of flavour was lost to the world.
Thankfully, in 2004, Luca Gargano discovered the ossuary of Caroni's warehouses filled of barrels of the legendary heavy rum quietly ageing. Since then we have seen a number of outstanding releases, proving increasingly popular with collectors and drinkers alike.
This is part of the Caroni Employees series from Velier, and honours Kevon 'Slippery' Moreno, who worked there for 10 years.
The Kevon 'Slippery' Moreno release is a 1998 vintage 21 year old. One of 1400 bottles produced from a stock of 6 barrels selected between Luca Gargano 26 other Caroni lovers who scoured the warehouses in eight "tasting gangs." (69.5%)
The other, also from the Caroni Employees series, honours David "Sarge" Charran who worked at the distillery for 28 years. It is a 1996 vintage 23 year old, and is one of 953 bottles produced from a stock of barrels again selected by Luca Gargano and a team of 26 Caroni experts on April 12th 2019. (66.5%)
