The Duchess Caroni Nautilus 1991

Review by Thunderbird

Most helpful positive review

Thunderbird

Aug 20241,275 reviewsGermany

8.0/10

This Caroni is more on the spicy, darker side. While I still perceive notes of yellow fruits and peach on the nose, these are completely lost on the palate, where there are only spices, roasted and chemical aromas. These also continue in the finish. This is not a Caroni that appeals to me... I find it lacking in fruitiness and balance.

Review by Tom Buteneers

Most helpful mixed review

Tom Buteneers

Oct 2024344 reviewsBelgium

7.9/10

Very fruity with the recognizable Caroni notes present but not overpowering. Very well balanced and easy to drink, the 54,1% hits the perfect spot.. Glad to have a couple cl left after the split on the forum. Happy to give my father a taste of it today. Revisit 23/10/2024: I’ve accumulated more experience on the Caroni spectrum over the last half year so I wanted to know how it holds up nowadays. My palate has evolved clearly. I would describe it as a good rum nowadays but not necessarily a very good Caroni anymore. Tropical aged Veliers have corrupted me 🥲

Review by cigares

cigares

Mar 2024995 reviewsSwitzerland

8.2/10

A rather interesting nose with lots of fruit (pear and apricot among others), bitter herbs, minerality and rubber. On the palate, there's a very bumpy start, followed by a dip and the reappearance of a few aromas. Red apple and apricot, bitter herbs, rubber. The finish is short, but some aromas persist, including butterscotch. The empty glass is more balanced, with a woody/smoky edge. Far from uninteresting, but not the Caroni you'd dream of owning. The imbalance on the palate is what disappointed me here. Thanks Tom for the split.

Review by Jakob

Jakob

Apr 20251,493 reviewsSwitzerland

7.4/10

Quite restrained on the nose, with hints of wood and spices and a few Caroni-typical medicinal, rubbery aromas alongside muted fruit notes. A little more happens on the palate, the fruit becomes more expressive, as does the wood. Gradually, some tar, fruit and minerality are added, as well as spices and sweet aromas. It comes across as an HTR light, the aromas lack punch - unfortunately too colorless overall.

Review by Rodolphe

Rodolphe

Feb 2024311 reviewsFrance

8.6/10

Thanks to Tom for this beautiful split. Well, we're in Caroni territory on the nose, no doubt about it. The oily, rubbery notes are there. But the nose is a little closed, next to it is essentially wood. Then, with time, rather pleasant yellow fruit aromas develop, even if the nose remains relatively closed. On the palate, spices, yellow fruit and more "garage" notes. In the end, it's pretty good, the oil/rubber flavors not being my favorite. But on such an old rum and at such a price, one might expect a stronger, more expressive profile.

Review by Leo Krüper

Leo Krüper

Jul 2024914 reviewsGermany

7.6/10

A slightly spirited, sharp 1991. Only very slight hints of Caroni. Some 91 TDLs have more of a Caroni feel. Slightly bitter, slightly tarry. Overall, not a good Caroni at all. The price of €1000 is unreasonable for the quality.

Review by Mentalo

Mentalo

Jan 2025502 reviewsGermany

8.2/10

Bin zwiegespalten in der Bewertung. Der Rum ist qualitativ gut, wenn ich auch nicht sonderlich komplex. Sehr fruchtig mit leichten, dreckigen Caroni-Noten. Fand ich jetzt nicht verkehrt, wenn ich auch mehr „Caroni“ erwartet habe. Für den Preis müsste ich aber eigentlich noch 10 Punkte abziehen

Review by DomM

DomM

Jun 2024941 reviewsGermany

7.6/10

Nose is definitely on the lighter side of things. While there isn’t any Caroni dirt, it is not quite a flat column nose either. Solvent, vanilla, some wax and (rather fresh) yellow fruits and apple. On the palate: vanilla, caramel and chocolate. Some wood and yellow fruits in the background. By far not terrible. However, not exiting either. Definitely nothing akin to the sought after HTRs. For background info what this stuff actually is, I highly recommend Steffen‘s Caroni bible :) Side note: I just tasted some 1991 TDLs in parallel. They are handsdown preferable over this - at least if you plan on drinking rather than collecting.