Caroni Venus / Mars + Uitvlugt 1991 (Jack Tar)

The other day we tried their Laphroaig, but today we look at a couple of rum releases from independent bottler Jack Tar.

We start with Uitvlugt 1991, the third chapter of the Illusion series after the Caroni Limbo and Uitvlugt Dream Catcher. Next up: a pair of Caroni bottlings, from a set of four in total. The whole set has been dedicated to the most powerful cosmic couples: the Moon and the Sun, Venus and Mars. Four casks selected to showcase the multifaceted character of Caroni distillery.

 

Uitvlugt / Port Mourant 31 yo 1991 ‘Time Travel’ (59,2%, Jack Tar ‘Illusion series’ 2023, cask #32, 150 btl.)

Nose: hints of sauna wood and eucalyptus oil, some grassy / mossy notes and light petrol. Then hints of lip balm and herbs, some penchil shavings and anise. A little liquorice and fennel. Some vague green fruits (lime, pomelo, unripe peach) and floral notes in the background. Overall rather mild and really elegant.

Mouth: quite an attack, with a focused profile. There’s aniseed and chilli, lemons, oyster brine and diesel again. Also olives and pencil shavings. Some varnished notes and oil paint. Then back to herbal extracts – some kind of medicinal syrup, salty liquorice, leafy tobacco and light hints of tar.

Finish: long, with sweet hints of herbal tea along with petrol and oak spice.

A rather vertical Uitvlugt, focusing on herbal notes, petrol and pencil shavings. While the ABV gives it a lot of punch, it is also relatively elegant. Really good.

 

 

Caroni 25 yo 1997 ‘Venus’ (60,1%, Jack Tar ‘Cosmic series’ 2023, single cask #81, 214 btl.)

Nose: classic heavy but balanced Caroni, on tarry notes and black olives, a little garden compost and old metal tools. However there’s also a nice hint of juicy cherry and red apple. Even a little caramel and something grape-y. Then nice leather books in an old library, with a polished oak floor.

Mouth: not the roundness I was expecting. Instead a lot of mentholy freshness, antiseptics, brine and a wee hint of glue. Liquorice and tar. Some apples and bananas, with ginger, a herbal and slightly rubbery dryness and flashes of pineapple.

Finish: long, quite bright, with tarry notes but also a hint of grapefruit and marmelade, as well as some rubber again.

Lovely nose with a perfect balance. On the palate it becomes brighter but also slightly more austere, which gives you a bit of everything. Nice one. Score: 90/100

 

 

Caroni 24 yo 1998 ‘Mars’ (61,1%, Jack Tar ‘Cosmic series’ 2023, single cask #2185, 195 btl.)

Nose: slightly sharper. More oak polish and varnish, hints of turpentine and salted anchovies. Then citrusy fruits and fermenting pineapple, petrol and leather saddle. Liquorice, olives and carbon.

Mouth: slightly more brutal again, with more woody notes. Varnish, olives, marmalade and plenty of minty freshness. The oak brings a citrusy side but also a faint hint of vanilla. Hints of petrol and white pepper, along with herbal tea. Increasing camphory notes towards the end.

Finish: really long, maybe a tad rounder now. Black tea, citrus, petrol and just a hint of caramel.

So here we get more of the austerity from the start, and I couldn’t help but miss the fruitier side on the nose. Slightly more classic perhaps, still really good but slightly less to my preferences. Score: 88/100