Aroma visualization from community tastings
Bristol Caroni HTR 1997
Here's the twist: this is a Caroni that leans woodier and smokier than the classic tar-and-ash template, and members are genuinely split on it. Give it 5-10 minutes of air and it opens into rubber, leather, caramel and ripe mango over "engine oil" and licorice. Bottled at full cask strength, so nothing feels diluted — but a few tasters found it less dirty and complex than the hype leads you to expect.
The community says- Undiluted cask strength
- Leather and tar
- Little fruit
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The look inside the bottle
How does Bristol Caroni HTR 1997 taste?
Aggregated from 52 community reviews.
Full-strength Caroni, woodier and smokier than usual Loved by Caroni fans for its full-strength leather, tar and smoke, though some found it woodier and less fruity than the classic profile, or "just middling" against Velier bottles.
Caroni fans who want full-strength tar and leather
Anyone who dislikes smoke, high ABV, or expects fruit-forward rum
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
30 of 52 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
How is Bristol Caroni HTR 1997 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.7 sits in the “Very good” band. 100% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Live auctions
Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Community voices
What does the community say?
6% rate it between 6 and 8. 14 selected write-ups from 52 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Dennis
Ein sehr extremer Rum, der einem die Socken auszieht. Entweder man liebt ihn oder man hasst ihn. Genial!
Review by cigares
Un Bristol non ou peu réduit. Le nez est marqué par le bois, le fumé, la vanille et la banane. La bouche est très expressive avec des arômes larges et profonds. J’aime cette aromatique Caroni, très classique ici. La finale est longue, élégante avec la plupart des arômes de la bouche. Une réussite ! Même si j’ai une préférence pour le 18 ans de la même série. Merci Michael pour le sample.
Review by Joachim Guger
A really great Caroni nose. Lots of rubber, lots of caramel, plenty of ripe mango. Complex spice, the barrel maturity holds back. Old, dusty chest of drawers, I love it.😀😀 Oily caramel, oak and spices in the mouth. The finish could be a little longer. The 1997 Bristol are really excellent, although I liked the 2015 from memory a touch better. This one is a little more on the rubber, caramel and ripe mango side. In my opinion, it can certainly hold its own with one or two black bottles. In the meantime (04/2023), this one is only available on the secondary market. ☹️
Review by Godspeed
My first Caroni and it does not disappoint. A flavor profile that is truly unique just like the reputation said. Needed to breath 5-10 minutes before I could get the most of it. Nose seems like all solvent at first but opens up greatly with time to reveal sumptuous leather notes and a hint of tar. On the palate without resting it is too dense but not to worry, 10 minutes of opening and it delivers on the nose with leather and tar but also develops tropical fruit, dark vanilla, and elderflower. Delicious and just so very grown, mature, and fulfilled in flavor. This has high quality rum written all over it and I’m a little obsessed with the powerful leather notes. As much a sensory experience as it is a rum, highly recommended.
Review by Filip Šikula
Nádherná. Je to uplně jiné než většina ostatních caroni, ale je to perfektní. Dědova dílna horem dolem. Technický nos, dehet, lak, guma a karamel. V chuti se držíme očekávaného chuťového profilu, vyšší abv je perfektně integrováno a krásně rozvibruje jazyk. Středně dlouhý finish. Paráda.
Review by Alexander Rasch
Was soll ich sagen. Ich liebe die Bristol Caronis. Wirkt alles etwas zugänglicher und weniger verholzt als bei anderen Caronies. Und dieser Aschenbecher. Wunderbar. Für mich nur marginale Unterschiede zum 2015er. P/L war einfach Top. Noch für unter 200 gekauft. Waren das Zeiten.
Review by Mirko Frosini 🇮🇪
I love the Carons, I love them so much that I find it hard to be impartial. I won't go into it because it would just be fancy words anyway! Nice Caroni, but surely there will be better. Of the ones I have tasted this one I think is the most distinctive because it remains excellently balanced between the typical tar notes and the peaty/smoky whisky notes. Far superior to the Rum Nation 21y Caroni aged in Scotland. Let's be clear that this is not a classic Caroni! Finish not as long as other Caronis.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
This is a slightly different Caroni and I love it. The nose is dark, musty and woody with rubber, tar, leather and berries trailed by licorice, tobacco, cocoa and caramel. A very nice nose once rested. With water the flavours are even clearer. The palate complex well balanced and elegant at the same time. I get tropical fruits, tar, rubber and a lot of wood and smoke/roasted notes trailed by leather, vanilla and a light salty note. The finish is long and has smoky wood, tar and slightly more salty than the palate.
Review by Boletus
Nicht nur im Geruch ist die vielschichtige Entwicklung, die dieser Caroni mit zunehmendem Luftkontakt nimmt, beeindruckend. Auch im Mund ist das abwechslungsreiche Wechselspiel der Aromen großartig zu verfolgen und entzückt meine Geschmackspapillen nachhaltig.
Review by Harald
Caroni 1997 Bristol Classic Rum Trinidad HTR Heavy Type Rum Distilled: 1997 Bottled: 31.05.2017 Aged 20 Years 61.5% Farbe: Umbra Geruch: Zu Beginn süß und fruchtig. Riecht nach leckerem Toffee, heissen Maroni, aber auch Hustensaft, Maschinen- und Altöl. Geschmack: im Mund vor allem Lakritze. Beim Schlucken dann sehr kräftig, intensiv und würzig. Schmeckt nach Hustensaft und Baumrinde. Abgang: Sehr lang, wärmt von tief innen. Würzig nach Pfeffer, Ingwer und Lakritze. Leicht bitter im Nachgeschmack. Sehr trocken im Abgang. Fazit: Sehr leckerer Caroni vom HTR-Typ. Die sonst bei Caroni häufigen Noten von Teer und Asche fehlen für mich weitgehend ... vielleicht im Abgang etwas. Gummi und Fahrradschlauch, wie ebenfalls häufig geschrieben wird, kann ich mit meinen Tasting Notes schon eher vereinbaren. 88 Punkte
Review by Santo
Un premier nez bien sale, ensuite avec l'aération je sent une certaine douceur même assez gourmande je dirais. En bouche la douceur a disparu, c'est encore plus sale plus intense, j'ai vraiment une sensation d'huile de moteur dans la bouche avec du cuir de la réglisse du caramel et des fruits rouges. Dommage que la bouche et la finale ne soit pas à la hauteur du nez, mais ça reste un très bon Caroni.
Review by MJ97
Au nez, côté orange confite / caramel beurre salé, fumé. C’est moins pétrole/lourd que les 2 autres que j’ai goûté mais plus fruité. En bouche, côté aqueux, moins riche en arôme que les 2 autres.
Review by 86kringo
Ich werde aus dem nicht schlau. Ich mag rum, ich mag rauchige spirituosen, aber rum und rauch? Ich weiß nicht, für mich beisst sich das. Wo ich mir auch schwer tue ist der hohe alkoholgehalt, hier sind es ü60%. Gibt man etwas mehr wasser dazu, dann stirbt der volle rumgenuß... Sicherlich nicht schlecht, aber irgendwie nicht mein stil.
Review by Djehey
Moins Rond que sont petit frère à 56,4.
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Expert reviews
Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum..
Expert review by Rum nagykövet
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Details about Bristol Caroni HTR 1997
A Column Still Rum from Trinidad, bottled by Bristol Classic Rum, at 61,5%.
Community purchases
60 bottles logged by 44 collectors.
A collector's bottle.
15% opened, 2 emptied and repurchased.
What did the community pay for Bristol Caroni HTR 1997?
Community paid 169–292 €.
What members actually paid for their bottles. A typical range, not the current shop price. Full price & collection history in RX+ →
60 purchased · 53 tasted · 21 wishlist · as of
About the Caroni distillery
The Caroni distillery is located in Trinidad. Rums from Caroni have been reviewed 10,324 times with an average of 8.8/10.
To Caroni →You may also enjoy
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Bristol Caroni HTR 1997
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Velier Caroni 34th Release 100 Proof Heavy Trinidad Rum 1996
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Velier Caroni 100% Trinidad Rum 17 HTR 1998
Velier Caroni 100% Trinidad Rum 17 HTR 1998Dirty, balanced Caroni with tar and dried fruit
Velier Caroni Heavy Trinidad Rum HTR 1992
Velier Caroni Heavy Trinidad Rum HTR 1992Classic tar-and-fruit Caroni, reduced but rich
Cave Guildive Caroni Trinidad Rum HTR 1998
Cave Guildive Caroni Trinidad Rum HTR 1998Balanced, fruity Caroni with tamed dirt
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