Romdeluxe T.D.L Wild Series Rum No. 54 (Prague Rumfest 2024) TML 2002

For me, the first RdL is still the king of the 2002 TDLs. Unfortunately, the sample has been empty for a long time. Here in the crosstasting between the second RdL, the old RA, the RC and the TWJ for Macau, it's probably all about the other places on the podium. The new RdL clearly stands out in terms of color - it is much darker than the others. The wood that is responsible for this also characterizes the rest of the rum. On the nose in the form of a typical oak-vanilla note. Behind this, the typical markers come into their own. Black tea, mint. I don't find peach to be so prominent, but there is some mango and tropical fruit salad. Many of the brighter notes from the RA are missing here. In the mouth the picture is similar, here too the aromatics are quite wood-driven for a 2002. Mint and menthol are also very present here. The tropical fruits are rather dry and not very juicy. The aroma is darker and less green than the RA. The finish is very long without exaggerated bitterness, despite a clear astringency.

This TDL is heavy and solid. The dark, heavy aromas predominate. Coffee, blackcurrants, cask and allspice are perceptible to me almost throughout. A slight minty fresh note is also noticeable. The alcohol is very well integrated. Great bottling (I let it breathe for a long time, 1h)

#4775 11.07. 2024 Relaxing evening with some nice liquids 😊 Nose Fresh, light wood, fruits, light herbs, light mint, faint caramel. Palate Intense, warm, light wood, faint roasted, fruits, light peach, faint smoke, light mint. Finish Long and warm, wood, light roasted, dried fruit, light caramel, faint smoke, light mint. The empty glass has light citrus, cherry and faint rubber.

So now we have the sister cask to the awesome 2023 bottling. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to compare it directly, but at least I had a few other TDLs there to be able to narrow down the evaluation. Conclusion; great nose, sensational taste. You just have to give it a little time after pouring. The alcohol was a little present at first, but after about 30 minutes the taste experience was terrific.

A little TDL tasting today, with RX13557, RX 944, RX15670, RX 19670, RX15565 and RX20525. I have not yet tasted the RomDeluxe No. 54 and was very curious to see how it compares to the No. 42, my previous TDL reference. They are similar on the nose, with slightly less fruit in No. 54. On the palate, the fruit recedes a little more into the background, while the woody and herbal notes become stronger. When drunk on its own, I don't mind the stronger woody note. In direct comparison, I still like the No. 42 better and it remains my TDL No. 1.

Medium minty strength. Quite balanced. Too hot today for the high %.

Surprisingly accessible on the nose with lots of spices, caramel, mint, some smoke and dried fruit. Also quite balanced and round on the palate without any rough edges. Solid, but not an exceptional TDL.

Direct comparison between 3 T.D.L 2002 single casks: 1st RC RX19670: 85 points 2. FRC RX13557: 80 points 3. Rom Deluxe RX20525: 88 points The RC and FRC are similar in profile, with herbs and yellow fruit. The FRC's higher abv is noticeable, and the alcohol could also be better integrated here. The RC has a longer finish. In general, the RC is much more pleasing and more fun. The Dane has a completely different profile, dark fruit, more old wood and more mint. On the palate, it is very dry, intense and heavy, which I really like. I like it best of the three.

Insanely delicious 2002 TDL! Never experienced so much cassis / blackcurrant as in a really good Kir Royal. Accompanied by mint, menthol, caramel and blackberry and simply super tasty and almost juicy! 😄 Awesome piece!

A very nice T.D.L mint very dominant. Has a light, pleasant sweetness. Takes its time in the glass, but then it is very full-bodied and creamy on the palate. Only the alcohol could have been a little better integrated here.

Now tasted for the second time against the Wild Series Ed. 42. I like it even better this time. Ed. 42 and Ed. 54 are quite similar on the nose, even if Ed. 42 is slightly fresher. On the palate, Ed. 54 is, as usual, more mature and slightly more bitter than Ed. 42, with the mint and herbs more prominent. You can tell that Ed. 54 has matured for longer and is therefore more strongly influenced by the cask, but with a little more time in the air and a little water, the difference is no longer as great as it was during the first crosstasting. The finish is medium long with mint, wood and a little bitterness. Ed. 42 is still slightly ahead for me due to the stronger mint/herbaceousness, but in the end both are at the same high level in terms of quality. I think Ed. 54 is completely undervalued here. A great, very round TDL 2002, for me 87 points with a tendency towards perhaps 88 points with a little more time and air.

Today I had the new Trinidad in my glass. I have to say that I find it surprisingly round and drinkable. The alcohol is extremely well integrated. The only drawback is that the finish is not too long. Nevertheless, a very good rum.

Mint, menthol, wood, tropical fruit - has a lot of the typical TDL profile of the post-2000 era, but at the same time also proves why the 2002 vintage doesn't quite make it to the top: I find it lacks the final freshness and aromatic expressiveness that is present in 2001, 2003 and 2009, for example. We are left with an extremely tasty rum which, in contrast to the typical representatives of the vintages mentioned, scores points with its balance, but at the same time comes across a little too tame for me - insofar as one can still speak of this at 63.4%. Therefore, a high score for the balance and diversity, but not absolute top class due to the lack of points.

Nice mate, alcohol just right. The perfect thing

Very successful Trinidad prp Prague Rum Fest. Smooth, mint, delicate leather and anise. Just everything we like about Trinidad.