Nobilis T.D.L No. 27

"Super frischer, sehr trockener und intensiver TDL. Weniger Minze dafür umso mehr Eukalyptus, Kampfer, Holunder, etwas Bitterorange, und sehr viel rauchiges Holz aber kein Wunder nach ganzen 16y tropical aging. Könnte blind fast schon auch als tropical uitvlugt durchgehen wegen der leichten Bleistift Note, was mir nicht so gefällt... Erinnert auch an diverse alte Clarendons. Sehr abgefahren! Aber der RA 2001 gewinnt hier im Direktvergleich eindeutig! Dieser hier ist dann doch etwas extrem auf der reinen Menthol/Kampfer Seite, welche mir hier too much ist..."

"An incredibly strong rum. A lot of power in it. At first I had a strong taste of gorgonzola in my mouth. Definitely not for the sober palate. I liked the 2003 vintages better because the (yellow) fruit is more present. It is simply too strong and too brute in taste for me. It works better for me with water."

"An absolute favorite! I was looking for a quality sample to celebrate a sad event, and I found myself smiling again instantly. The nose is a little discreet, but opens up with the same tastes as on the palate, where the menthol and red fruit flavors in particular shatter all scores, with a crazy intensity, very gourmand, very complete. In short, top 1 of the year in a single sip. Kisses grandpa, we'll never forget you. Edit: dreaming about it, top, but a texture that lacks a hair of fat to be perfect :)"

"Of the dirty TDLs, 2001 is the most prominent vintage. The 2001s are the dirtiest, 2002 is fresher and 2003 is yellow fruitier. In crosstasting, I tried the RA, TCRL, Nobilis, Plantation Antipodes and the new Rasta Morris. The rums are incredibly similar - esp. the Nobilis and RM are barely distinguishable. The RA stands out because of the dilution, the Plantation is clearly marked by the cognac barrel - it moves it closer to the 2003s - and the TCRL is the freshest, with an unusual herbal note. The TCRL is somewhat reminiscent of the 2002s.The Nobilis is the dirtiest of my samples with the RM. In addition to the typical menthol and mint notes, there is tar, wood, toasty caramel, tobacco and some coffee. The yellow fruits (overripe peach) are quite far in the background but there. If I had to distinguish the Nobilis from the RM, I would point to the smell of damp cellar (musty, cardboard) in the Nobilis versus a wood-paneled man's room. A difference that is probably mostly imaginary. Both are even more wood driven than the other two. Maybe these rums shouldn't age much. For me, on the same level as the RM. Very, very good."

"Auch wenn es nicht ganz mein Profil ist, so ist dies doch einer der besserer TDLs aus den frühen 2000ern. Minze/Menthol/Eukalyptus fügen sich hier auch schön ein sind aber trotzdem im Vordergrund. Wer also auf die mentholigen Noten steht, der wird hier fûndig und glücklich."

"Wow… this is really an amazing rum! I adore those T.D.L’s from the early 2000 with this lovely minty note. Reminds me of fisherman’s friend: If they are too strong, you are too weak😜😜 The alcohol and wood is integrated very well"

"The TDLs from the early 2001s are gradually developing into real highlight releases. You have to like the minty eucalyptus note and it also seems to have some splitting potential - but aromatically, it's a real blast. Really impressive, I'm curious about a crosstasting. But the first impression is already very convincing."

"Clearly more challenging than the FRC TDL 2002 (RX13557), which seems downright pleasing against the one year older, darker and much more powerful Nobilis, even if the Barracuda with 61.4% vol. is not exactly a child of alcoholic sadness either. I think it's the mood of the day that decides which of the two comes out on top here. In any case, the mint I love so much is present in both. But the CDI TDL 2003 16yr (RX944; bottling for Germany) remains in this respect the (my) measure of all things."

"the nose reminds me of the TDL Excellence Rhum 2003, with red fruits, pipe tobacco, caramel, and a dirty menthol note, but not as pronounced as the RA TDL 2001. The palate is intense, dirty charred, tannins, barrel. Long, fresh (only slightly mentholated) finish. Again, an excellent TDL that one can definitely put close to Caroni."

"A T.D.L 2001 that stands out for its balance and exuberance. The nose is impressive, at once empyreumatic like a Caroni, medicinal and fruity like a T.D.L., but with an elegance beyond compare. The nose exudes strength. Woodiness, tobacco and spices join forces to make a place for themselves in this compelling, divisive profile. The attack on the palate is powerful, intense and yet highly aromatic. Menthol, eucalyptus and aromatic herbs defy empyeumatic notes of tar, rubber, smoke and oak that pull on spice to take control of the palate. Dried fruit, caramel and dark chocolate are more discreet, ambushing the palate. The finish lingers between the medicinal side (menthol, eucalyptus, aromatic herbs) and the empyreumatic aromas (smoke, tar, rubber) of the other. Behind the spices lies a less pronounced form of bitterness than usual, made up of licorice and leather. The fruit is very subtle, but adds a touch of deliciousness to this most intense profile. A rum that stands out from the ordinary, complex, balanced, powerful but with impeccable mastery: great art."

"9,2:On the nose, the first impression we get is roasted wood, a bit spicy with smoke, nuts, caramel, as the fruits are tropical with passion fruit, dried with apricot, currants, red with cherry and citrus with mandarine. We feel the dirt, tar pervading through the notes. After airing the rum, the molasses is dark with black tea, minty, some tobacco pops up and pleasant pastry.Very tempting, round. 9:On the palate, the attack is very fruity, syrupy, industrial and woody, with all variety of exotic fruits like passion fruit, mandarine, toasted coconut and dried apricots.The wood is charred with nuts, chocolate and caramel, smoky, spicy with vanilla and pepper.With industrial notes like rubber and tar, it comes bitter. The molasses is vegetal with mint, tea, eucalyptus.After some rest, some camphor shows for a moment, just for a sec. Confectionery and charred wood round up the palate. 8,9:The finish is long, TDL industrial, woody with spice, charred notes, dry, the fruits are weaker, as the molasses is vegetal with oregano, tea, herbal and darker with a licorice.."

"Wieder mal ein typischer, exzellenter Vertreter der TDL 2001 mit der so prägnanten Minznote, die nicht zu sehr hinaussticht. Zugleich schöne Fassnoten, leicht rauchiger Touch."

"The nose is amazing n this one. Most mint I had in one of the 2000ish TDLs so far. Yet this is also complex providing a profile akin to a well made Queens Park Swizzle. Intense on the palate. Mint is much less present. The bottling shows quite some dirt and smoke alongside the mint and fruity notes. Excellent."

"The third in today's tasting. It is very similar to the Plantation, but a bit more intense! Also an excellent TDL. The 2001s are simply top!"

"Something is probably in the air in Trinidad: So much dirty flavors you know mostly only from Caroni, but also TDL shows every now and then, how Trinidad tastes (and thereby times the barrel discussion post-Caroni aside...). The rum is similar to the RA TDL 2001 or the CDI TDL 16y, but brings much less mint. Here we have even more spicy notes, barrel influence and that rather hard to define (positive) dirt. Since I am not the biggest mint fan, I like the Nobilis in any case very well and this bottling actually screams for a cross-tasting with the two already mentioned!"