The Tortuga Caroni Trilogy: When Legendary Rum Meets Sea Turtle Conservation

The Tortuga Caroni Trilogy: When Legendary Rum Meets Sea Turtle Conservation

The Story Behind Tortuga

Some independent bottlings are simply about exceptional liquid. Others tell a story. The Tortuga Caroni Trilogy set out to achieve both.

Developed in partnership with East Asia Whisky Company, the Tortuga project became one of the most ambitious and meaningful initiatives ever undertaken by Precious Liquors. While East Asia Whisky Company contributed significantly to elements of the creative and design process, all rum selections, cask sourcing, maturation decisions and overall project development were fully carried out by Precious Liquors.

The result was a trilogy of extraordinary bottlings from the legendary, closed Caroni Distillery, united by a mission that extended far beyond collecting and drinking rum.

Through the Tortuga Series, an incredible EUR 16,000 was donated to the Sea Turtle Conservancy, helping support one of the world's oldest and most respected organisations dedicated to protecting endangered sea turtles worldwide.

For Precious Liquors, it was proof that independent bottling can be about more than exceptional spirits. It can create awareness, support meaningful causes and leave a positive impact.

Caroni Distillery: The Legend of Trinidad

No discussion about the Tortuga Trilogy can begin without understanding the cult status of Caroni rum.

Established in Trinidad in 1918 and permanently closed in 2002, Caroni Distillery produced heavy-style rums unlike anything else in the Caribbean. Characterised by notes of petrol, tar, engine oil, tropical fruits, leather, smoke and medicinal herbs, Caroni became one of the most sought-after names among serious rum collectors.

Today, Caroni bottlings represent some of the most collectible rums in the world, with rare releases regularly achieving remarkable prices at auctions and on the secondary market.

The Tortuga Series was designed as a tribute to this extraordinary distillery, showcasing three distinct interpretations of Caroni's unmistakable character.

Why Tortuga?

"Tortuga" means turtle in Spanish.

The inspiration came from recognising the fragile ecosystems that surround many rum-producing regions. Sea turtles have inhabited our oceans for over 100 million years, yet many species now face serious threats from habitat destruction, climate change and pollution.

The collaboration with the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) allowed Precious Liquors and East Asia Whisky Company to combine the passion for rare spirits with a genuine conservation effort.

As Sea Turtle Conservancy stated when announcing the inaugural release:

"STC has partnered with East Asia Whisky Company & Precious Liquors who created a truly exceptional rum to raise awareness and funds to help us do what we do best: Save turtles!"

What began as an idea evolved into one of the most distinctive rum projects of recent years.

Tortuga No.1

The Beginning of a Legacy

The inaugural Tortuga release remains one of the rarest Precious Liquors bottlings ever produced.

Distilled in 1998 at Caroni and bottled after 22 years of maturation, Tortuga No.1 introduced collectors to a project where extraordinary rum and meaningful purpose could coexist.

Specifications

  • Distillery: Caroni Distillery, Trinidad
  • Distilled: 1998
  • Bottled: 2021
  • Age: 22 Years Old
  • ABV: 66.1%
  • Cask Number: #2286
  • Bottles: 230 worldwide
  • Bottler: Precious Liquors × East Asia Whisky Company

Upon release, owners could engage directly with the conservation initiative through information linked to Sea Turtle Conservancy activities, reinforcing the connection between the bottle and the cause it supported.

Today, Tortuga No.1 has become an increasingly difficult bottle to access, representing both the beginning of the trilogy and an important chapter in Precious Liquors' history. 

Tortuga No.2

Elegance Within the Heavy Style

The second release demonstrated another fascinating side of Caroni.

While maintaining the distillery's unmistakable DNA, Tortuga No.2 showcased a slightly lighter profile, revealing exceptional balance and complexity.

Specifications

  • Distillery: Caroni Distillery, Trinidad
  • Distilled: 1998
  • Bottled: 2021
  • Age: 23 Years Old
  • ABV: 59.9%
  • Cask Number: #35
  • Bottles: 254 worldwide
  • Partnership: Precious Liquors × East Asia Whisky Company × Sea Turtle Conservancy

Whiskyfun Tasting Notes – 88 Points

Serge Valentin of Whiskyfun awarded Tortuga No.2 an impressive 88 points, describing it as:

  • shoe polish
  • metal polish
  • tomato sauce all'arrabbiata
  • castor oil
  • Manzanilla influences
  • two-stroke fumes
  • smoked bacon
  • liquorice
  • roasted nuts
  • tar
  • green pepper

He concluded:

"Absolutely excellent, despite the thinner body of a 'light' Caroni."

Read the original review:
https://www.whiskyfun.com

Tortuga No.3

The Mizunara Experiment

The final chapter of the trilogy became its most daring expression.

Tortuga No.3 featured a Caroni distilled in 1998 and subsequently matured for approximately 20 months in first-grade Mizunara oak from Hokkaido, Japan.

At the time of release, it represented one of the most unusual and ambitious Caroni maturation projects ever attempted.

Specifications

  • Distillery: Caroni Distillery, Trinidad
  • Distilled: 1998
  • Bottled: 2023
  • Age: 24 Years Old
  • ABV: 58.1%
  • Cask Number: #2092
  • Bottles: 154 worldwide
  • Special Maturation: 20 months in Mizunara oak

Whiskyfun Tasting Notes – 89 Points

Whiskyfun awarded Tortuga No.3 89 points, describing aromas and flavours including:

  • petrol
  • teak oil
  • Barbour grease
  • cedarwood
  • old pipe tobacco
  • chestnut honey
  • truffle
  • pine tar
  • eucalyptus
  • menthol
  • olives
  • liquorice
  • lemons
  • sweeter fruits

Serge Valentin concluded:

"It's absolutely excellent."

Original review:
https://www.whiskyfun.com

Critical Acclaim

The Tortuga releases have received praise from respected reviewers across the spirits world.

Additional reviews and coverage can be found at:

Such recognition further reinforces the trilogy's status among collectors of Caroni rum, single cask rum, Trinidad rum, and premium independent bottlings.

More Than a Rum Project

The Tortuga Trilogy ultimately became something greater than the sum of its parts.

It demonstrated that:

  • exceptional rum can support meaningful causes,
  • collectors are willing to engage with conservation initiatives,
  • independent bottlers can create projects with genuine impact,
  • storytelling and authenticity remain essential elements of premium spirits.

Most importantly, the trilogy generated EUR 16,000 in donations to Sea Turtle Conservancy, directly supporting efforts to protect endangered sea turtles around the globe.

For Precious Liquors, that achievement remains just as important as the remarkable quality of the liquid itself.

The Return of Tortuga

Years after the original releases sold out, the Tortuga Collection has made an unexpected comeback.

For collectors who missed the original allocations, the opportunity to acquire bottles from this historic trilogy is exceptionally rare.

Whether you are fascinated by the legend of Caroni Distillery, searching for outstanding single cask Trinidad rum, exploring unique Mizunara-finished spirits, or simply looking for bottles with a story worth telling, the Tortuga Trilogy stands as one of the defining projects in the history of Precious Liquors.

Because sometimes, the greatest spirits do more than fill a glass.

They help protect the world that inspires them.

Where Every Bottle Tells a Story.

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