The Whisky Jury T.D.L The Manu face of rums Trinidad Rum

"A benchmark for TDL 2003, this rum takes us on an extraordinary olfactory journey. Menthol and flowers (rose in particular) intoxicate us with their freshness, while fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry, tropical fruit, lychee, peach) exhilarates the nostrils. There's a dirty tire and rubber quality reminiscent of Caroni. Wood and spice are also well balanced in the background. A complete, intense and delicious olfactory profile. The attack on the palate is one of the most intense floral displays, fresh and almost medicinal with notes of menthol and eucalyptus. Fruit is legion, with tropical fruit (lychee, mango, passion fruit), yellow fruit (peach), black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry) and dried fruit. The rubber combines well with the spicy oak, which doesn't take on too much. The alcohol is superbly well integrated. An infinitely round, complex, elegant profile that makes you want to return to it instantly. The finish is close to infinite, floral, fresh, fruity as it should be on the same markers with a little dirty and rubbery touch, caramel and a light woodiness. All of which leaves an indelible impression on the palate. An absolutely magnificent bottling that allows The Whisky Jury to play in the big league, and TDL to assert itself as the revival of Trinidad."

"Tasted at Liquid Leuven ‘23, so my review remains rather concise. On the nose we get fruity and fresh aromas combined with dark sugars and pine trees. It’s of course very cool and herbal, as befits TDL ‘03, but a peachy note elevates its raw power into a slightly more accessible experience. In the mouth an absolute flavour bomb combining all possible markers. Opens sweet, fresh and lightly dirty with molasses, eucalyptus, mint, citrus oils and a bit of diesel. Then waves of peaches and passionfruit. And eventually finishes exceptionally nutty. The backlash remains extremely long. It’s cool, dirty yet sweet and rich in oils and resin. It’s obviously very similar to the other TWJ ‘03, but it’s a little less herbal. Less ‘woodland’. Less harsh. Instead it’s more playful, sweeter and fruitier. Incredible quality."

"Nose of summer fruit, peach, wood and menthol. Vanilla and sweetness. Engaging. The palate is initially intense. Alcohol is very present. Menthol very present, woody. Not the best TDL I've tasted, but interesting."

"That was a surprise, a lot of wood without any dry harshness or being bitter. Tropical fruits, herbs (mint being most present) and some additional tropical on the palate. The rubber notes are a fun addition to an overall great rum. With some water it gets more mineral and a little bit tamed and the drop pushes from 8.9 to a solid 9. // Until the final drop - this just stays great."

"Wow! once again, the whisky jury doesn't mess around with quality: On the nose, it's almost all fruit to begin with, but with a little aeration, it becomes more complex. On the palate, fruit dominates, but a light menthol adds a touch of freshness. Same for the finish This is a 100% pleasure TDL, superb."

"Un profil intense très fruité et floral qui me séduit beaucoup avec une belle intégration de l'alcool. Un excellent représentant de TDL. Il reste très intense avec des notes de caoutchouc qu'on peut retrouver typiquement sur les TDL."

"The first thing that has caught my eye was an interesting graphic design of the label. I really love all The Whisky Jury rum themes, and this one is my favourite by far. The symbolism of pelicans is a very interesting topic as well, so it caught my attention instantly. The colour is amber. Nose is a little bit closed in the beginning, but soon it becomes fruity (ripe tropical fruit), spicy and malty. Taste is beautiful and continuation of the nose. If their previous (19yo sister cask) TDL release was a whisky drinkers rum, that this is for all those who prefer cognac. Palate is fruity and creamy - ripe tropical fruits again, citrus, some dried fruits (grapes). Walnuts, spices and resins. Barrel influence is at check, and I taste some slight bitternes and fresh herbs buried in the background. The finish is powerful and spicy, but with great alchohol integration for a 63%vol. Nothing unpleasant or raw. It reminded me of an old Pirelli tyres commercial - the power is nothing without control. It possesses class and refinement, with enough horsepowers under the hood. 93/100"

"The rum has great shaped TDL/Trinidad profile, but it does not suit my taste"

"A rum that requires aeration to be appreciated. The nose is fruity, with very ripe exotic fruit, menthol and light woodiness. On the palate, it's oily, very fat, mentholated and rubbery, with the ripe fruit aspect still present. Very powerful, but very good for those who appreciate this type of heavy profile. A complex and very powerful rum reserved for palates trained for this profile."

"Duel with the nobilis 2003 62.3 : 1st nose (5min rest) - whisky jury: alcoholic pep, brown sugar, tangy red fruits mingled in the barrel. The whole is rather greedy. - Nobilis: less alcohol and, above all, lots of vanilla, which brings freshness. In the background, there's greediness, with brown sugar and a hint of stewed fruit. - Differences: less nobilis pep and more vanilla. The sweetness is present in both juices with the brown sugar effect. On the whiksy jury, there's more tart red fruit, while on the nobilis, the fruit is more mellow and compote-like. 2nd nose (30min) - whisky jury: bitter almond and peanut butter appear. Peach and brown sugar take a back seat. There's also a hint of freshness with lemon basil and lemongrass. A complex, balanced nose of fruit, sweetness, alcohol and acidity. 9/10 - nobilis: vanilla is still present, and the bitterness of wood appears. There's also a hint of almond in the form of frangipane. The nose is less fresh and seems heavier than its counterpart. 8.5/10 Palate : - whisky jury: more pungent entry on the alcohol, the alcohol is less well integrated. Initially, there's a lot of peach and a hint of milk chocolate. Acidity arrives gradually, with its share of redcurrant and peachy sweetness. 8/10 - nobilis: a very tart, granny-smith apple-like entry, followed by nuts and peach-filled frangipane 8/10 Finish: - whisky jury: very peach and milk chocolate-centered finish. The wood is not very present. Very greedy finish in line with the palate. 8/10 -nobilis: cherry stone topped with milk chocolate. Exceptional finish 9/10"

"Nose: very fresh and airy Palate: superbly integrated alcohol, straightforward, lively, but the profile"