Swell de Spirits has this On Tour series which holds festival releases and such. For Salon du Rhum 2024 in Spa (Belgium) they released this T.D.L. 2003. The people behind the festival have announced that they won’t be organizing the fair anymore, so this was effectively the last edition.
This Trinidad rum has a strange colour by the way, kinda brownish (not noticeable in SdS’ mock-up of the bottle).
T.D.L. 21 yo 2003 (58,7%, Swell de Spirits for Salon du Rhum Spa 2024, second fill bourbon cask, 320 btl.)
Nose: very ripe pineapple with mango, pink banana and peach. Just a little mint, with maracuya and pink grapefruit sourness underneath. Then a little charred wood and coconut shavings, as well as light nutty elements and a varnished edge. A hint of natural rubber and paint in the distance.
Mouth: now the typical mentholated side is bigger. Bright fruity notes (mango, bergamot, citrus zest, but not the brightest passion fruits) along with white pepper and liquorice. Some earthy notes underneath, dark tea and caramelized bitterness. Getting intensely herbal with a salted note.
Finish: quite long, pretty spicy now, on liquorice, a few tannins, anise and a hint of salty caramel. Minty freshness in the end.
I’ve become quite fond of Trinidad Distillers so I was keen to try this 2003 as well. Overall this TDL sits in the middle of the pack, I’d say. It’s quite herbal and spicy, which overshadows some of the tropical fruits.