Aroma visualization from community tastings
Spheric Spirits Caroni Heavy Trinidad Rum HTR 1997
What surprises people here is how much fruit sits next to the tar. It's a 1997 Caroni that carries the classic dirty, tarry, rubber-and-bicycle-tube side, but berries, menthol and even apricot keep it from being one-dimensional. Several tasters call it a "tamed" Caroni — full at 62% yet drinkable, with the ABV well integrated. One reviewer rates it among the best 97s he's had.
The community says- Tar and berries balanced
- Long spicy finish
- But: Less wild
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The look inside the bottle
How does Spheric Spirits Caroni Heavy Trinidad Rum HTR 1997 taste?
Aggregated from 27 community reviews.
Balanced tarry Caroni with real berry fruit A well-liked 1997 Caroni: tar and rubber balanced by berries, menthol and spice. Calmer than the wildest Caronis, which most tasters see as a plus.
Caroni fans who like tar with fruit alongside
Anyone new to heavy, tarry rum
How the community classifies this rum. Each category takes you to similar rums.
Which glass for which rum? The community guide →
13 of 27 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
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How is Spheric Spirits Caroni Heavy Trinidad Rum HTR 1997 rated?
RumX’s 0–10 scale is strict: 8.6 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 →
Community voices
What does the community say?
100% rate it 8 or higher. 14 selected write-ups from 27 community ratings. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Gunnar Böhme "Bauerngaumen" 🤓
Tja, war bisher der RX13912 für mich das Nonplusultra in Sachen Caroni 1997, so ist es jetzt der Caroni von Spheric Spirits. Hätte ich nicht gedacht! Im direkten Vergleich liegt der V&M an der Nase noch leicht vorn mit dreckigeren Noten. Aber am Gaumen spielt der Spheric seine 12 Jahre tropische Reifung mit mehr Wärme und mundfüllender Anmutung gegen die vollkontinentale Reifung des V&M, die zum Schluss doch recht bitter daherkommt, aus. Tolle Überraschung, Spheric Spirits!
Review by Tschusikowsky
Fits me very well. Dirty, intense, the volume also fits well. The apricot note in the finish was surprising. Certainly not the wildest Caroni. But I like it tiptop.
Review by Johannes
I think it's amazingly good! Round, but also complex Caroni with bourbon notes and also slightly dirty notes.
Review by Gregor
One of the last clean caronis. I enjoyed a sip in Barcelona with the bottler and loved it. The gummy taste is almost completely missing, but I think it's actually very good.
Review by DomM
Nose is intense and distinctive Caroni. However, this one is on the more tamed side. Dirty notes are balanced by some fruits (I get mostly berries) / wood / menthol and rather sweet/caramelley notes. Same on the palate: intense dark notes, some dirt, some fruits. Very enjoyable and balanced bottling.
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
02-09.04.2022 This was crazy week, where some friends and I rented a nice summerhouse on Rømø. The plan was to go nuts for a whole week with different rums without going overboard. The final agreement came to 6 rums a day and then enjoy nice walks or ferry rides during the day. Day 2 Notes Dark in colour. Nose Fresh, fruity, banana, light coconut, light wood, faint smoke, light leather, faint mint. Palate Oily, fresh, light wood, faint tar, fruits, pineapple, light coconut, faint earthy, light mint. Finish Medium to long, light wood, oily, light roasted wood, dried fruit, light pineapple, faint leather. Extra note. ABV very well integrated so an easy drinkable Caroni.
Review by Thunderbird
A straight Caroni... with convincing nose... on the palate not quite as intense and complex... but quite good!Especially the continuous dirty and berry note convinces!
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Very nice smoky and dirty Caroni, just as it should be!
Review by Galli33
Nose: Overwhelming smells of tar, rubber, bicycle tube pair with some berries (raspberry, blackberry..), a bit minty and for sure the barrel 😜. Mouth: Tar, Rubber, bicycle tube with a lot of spiciness. The tastes of the berries are well noted. Here you‘ll find a lot more various notes like: licorice, roasted almonds, dark chocolate, espresso, toasted barrel(oak). Finish: Medium-Long with some notes of the barrel(oak), dark chocolate, smoky, espresso.. Very delicious (not dirty) finish 🤓 I enjoyed this one a lot. Very solid Caroni with all classic edges and a smooth elegant finish.
Review by Oliver
Wonderful, fruity nose. Great, relaxed 1997 Caroni
Review by Boletus
The dirty side, which always reminds me a little of antiseptic tar cream, is unmistakably present, but never the sole entertainer. Instead, there are many fruity facets to discover, which form a successful counterpoint. A great 1997 Caroni!
Review by Michael Schou
#1759 28-03-2026 - Rate 9.0 I believe this one of the best 97’ Caroni’s I have tasted. Sometimes the 97’s are missing some intensity in nose and taste, but it’s full speed with this one. Love the combination between smell and taste
Review by Alexander Rasch
A very successful, intense 1997 Caroni. Dirty, sweet, and beautifully fruity. Here you get the full workshop aromas. The rum sticks nicely in the mouth and bites firmly. Add to that menthol and lovely herbs. The finish is long, intense, and astringent. Absolutely fantastic. I really like it. I'll pit it against my Bristol Caronis, but I'm afraid it will be very close for my good old Bristol bottlings.
Review by Rowald Sweet Empire
Typical Caroni. Everything quite in balance. Everything is a bit muted therefore easier than most Caronis. Very drinkable and still complex.
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Live auctions
Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
Market value
What this bottle last achieved at auction. A research indicator, not a forecast.
Auction results 345 € – 400 €
from 2 sales, latest 06/2025
Prices incl. buyer's premium — what a buyer pays, not what a sale nets you.
Avg. community purchase price 351 €
What members paid for this bottle, self-reported. Not a market value — the purchases are over three years old at the median and unverified.
Details about Spheric Spirits Caroni Heavy Trinidad Rum HTR 1997
A rum from Trinidad, bottled by Spheric Spirits, at 62%.
Community purchases
3 bottles logged by 3 collectors.
A collector's bottle.
0% opened, 0 emptied and repurchased.
3 purchased · 27 tasted · 8 wishlist · as of
Read on in the RumX Guide
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