A closed distillery in Trinidad, a 17-year-old calvados from Normandy, and six used casks that crossed the Atlantic – that is the recipe behind one of the boldest releases in Christian Drouin's experimental range.
Expert description
Experimental de Christian Drouin 17 Year Old Calvados Caroni Angels is a French Calvados finished in rum casks from the closed Caroni distillery and bottled at 48.8%.
This release belongs to Drouin's Expérimental range, Small Batch No. 6, where a 17-year-old Pays d'Auge calvados spent eight months in six used casks that previously held rum from Caroni in Trinidad. The Caroni distillery closed in the early 2000s, and its casks have since become sought after for the powerful, oily character they impart. This batch yielded 1,506 bottles, bottled in August 2022.
Tasting notes
Nose
Dark, stewed apple and oily oak, with a touch of leather and burnt sugar.
Palate
Full and earthy, with farmhouse cider, burnt caramel and a lightly smoky edge.
Finish
Long and dark, where dried apricot and a hint of petroleum-like dryness linger.
Specifications
Name: Experimental de Christian Drouin 17 Year Old Calvados Caroni Angels
Distillery: Christian Drouin
Region/Country: Pays d'Auge, Normandy, France
Type: French Calvados
Age: 17 years
ABV: 48.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in rum casks from the Caroni distillery
Distillation method: Double distilled
Bottled: August 2022
Number of bottles: 1,506
Edition: Expérimental Small Batch No. 6, Caroni Angels
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed at room temperature in a tulip-shaped glass, without ice.
Flavour profile
Bold · Oily · Smoky · Dark
Did you know?
Caroni casks are among the most discussed in the entire spirits world. Even though the distillery has been closed for over twenty years, its casks still appear in new releases, because they carry a character that fresh oak simply cannot replicate.
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