More rum today. Both entries are provided by The Roots, Joren Nuyts’ boutique independent bottling company from Belgium. We’ll be reviewing a T.D.L. 2009 14 Years, as well as a Diamond 2003 20 Years from the distillery’s Savalle still.
T.D.L. is short for Trinidad Distillers Limited, the same company that produces Angostura rum as well as the eponymous bitters, maybe Trinidad’s most famous export product. But before we dive into The Roots’ T.D.L. release, let’s first spend some time exploring the 20-year-old Diamond rum.
As I mentioned, it was distilled in a pair of Savalle stills. These are not dissimilar to a Coffey still, but instead have four columns, which is twice as many. The Savalle stills were originally part of Uitvlugt Distillery, where they were installed around 1921. They were then moved to Diamond Distillery at the turn of the century.
The Savalle still is the most versatile in the distillery. It is used to produce nine of Diamond’s 24 total marques (a particular rum recipe). I couldn’t tell you the marque of this release from The Roots.
Diamond Savalle Still 2003 20 Years (51.6%, The Roots, C#23)
- 2 years tropical aging, 18 years continental aging
- Distilled: 12/2003
- Bottled: 03/2024
- 174 bottles
Nose: Pretty dense with thick treacle, intense molasses and dark honey, as well as some dates, a slight rubber-y note and just a touch of crème de cassis. Also sweet toffee, some furniture polish and even sultanas, as well a bitter chocolate. Finally just a tinge of soy.
Taste: Very flavourful. Plenty of raisins as well as other dried fruits. Just a hint of mochaccino, some flambéed banana and vanilla. Also burnt sugar, very dark caramel and coffee liqueur. Ending on a hint of nougat.
Finish: Medium to long. Fudge, hazelnut and coffee.
T.D.L. 2009 14 Years (63%, The Roots, C#4)
- 10 years tropical aging, 4 years continental aging
- Distilled: 12/2009
- Bottled: 03/2024
- 201 bottles
- Charity bottling for Dram4ALS
Nose: Wonderfully tropical. Hints of mango, peaches and tinned pineapple, followed by rubber gloves and engine oil. Then slivers of aniseed, or maybe eucalyptus, accompanied by a touch of aceto di balsamico and gentle polishes. Very attractive.
Taste: The tropical notes continue. How wonderful! More mango, papaya and pineapples, as well as grapefruits. Pretty much a replicate of the nose. Just a touch of mint leaves too. Gentle oak spices.
Finish: Very long. Lingering citrus notes, some peaches. Green olives as well.
Samples provided by The Roots
