Here’s Trinidad Distillers again, from two vintages that brought us some wonderful bottlings before. It’s TDL 2009 and TDL 2003, both selected by The Good Spirits in Hong Kong, as a collab with Anchor in Australia and Whisky Picnic Bar in Taiwan.
T.D.L. 16 yo 2009 (57,5%, Anchor & The Good Spirits 2025, barrel #100)
Nose: starts slightly acetic, with plenty of varnished notes and a little glue. Cognac-like peaches and mint oil, as well as truckloads of grapefruit. Then bit hints of toasted oak and a hint of aniseed. Now tropical fireworks on the palate?
Mouth: …not quite. Some pink grapefruit and tart mango, as expected, but these are overtaken by sharper lemons, a drop of acetone and more glue. In addition there are green olives and brine. A mild rubbery hint comes out later, along with toasted wood.
Finish: long, still toasted and spicy, with varnished notes and salt, leaving less room for fruits.
Beautiful TDL again, with nice hints of tart citrus and more robust varnish and glue. Very enjoyable. The more tropical notes struggle to come out though.
T.D.L. 22 yo 2003 (57,5%, The Good Spirits & Whisky Picnic Bar 2025, barrel)
Nose: less glue here, which means more space for mango, pink grapefruit, as well as some lychee, maracuya sherbet and pineapple. Still a saline and varnished edge, even a fizzy touch, but more integrated. Then hints of jasmine and vanilla in the background.
Mouth: the differences are clear now – this is what we’re always hoping for in TDL. Juicy mango, plenty of lychee again (great), mango syrup and jammy peaches. A mild mentholated note adds freshness. Then hints of lime peel, black olive, a bit of bergamot and subtle liquorice.
Finish: long, with a lot of tart mango, peppermint and multi-fruit juice.
Excellent! Full of tropical fruit juice, with the right amount of minty freshness. Very hard to resist, this profile. Out of stock in the Good Spirits shop, I’m afraid. Score: 91/100