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Swell de Spirits T.D.L Private Garden #4 2005
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Vanilla, dark chocolate and ripe banana lead, with the classic TDL mint tucked into a woody, patisserie-like frame. This 18-year Trinidad column-still leans softer and more dessert-driven than the mint-forward modern releases — several tasters even mistook it for Barbados. The 62.1% is remarkably well hidden. A few felt it stays a touch one-dimensional with a short finish.
The community says- Superb alcohol integration
- Vanilla-chocolate-fruit gourmand
- Keep in mind: Can feel one-dimensional
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The look inside the bottle
How does Swell de Spirits T.D.L Private Garden #4 2005 taste?
From community reviews · summarized with AI
Soft, dessert-leaning aged Trinidad, mint in back Most find it elegant and gourmand — vanilla, chocolate, tropical fruit and mild menthol, with alcohol integration that drinks well below 62%. A few wanted more depth and a longer finish.
Aroma profileFans of aged Trinidad who like a softer, patisserie-style profile
Anyone chasing bold minty TDL markers or a long finish
Style & occasion: Mature & oakySipping neat
Full aroma profile Aroma families · nose & palate · top aromas
Relative to this rum's strongest aroma family
40 of 82 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Which glass for which rum? The community guide ›
Buying advice
Is it right for you?
Yes, if you're after bold, mature, oaky rums for sipping neat.
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What does the community say?
82 community reviews
Rating scale & review checks
On RumX, 7 means “Good” and 8 means “Very good”.
See the full rating guideHow ratings are made and how we check them ›The website shows a selection of written reviews. The distribution also includes ratings without text. All published reviews are available in the RumX app.
41 selected written reviews
The distribution above includes all 82 ratings, including those without text.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
Most helpful positive review
Incredibly beautiful successor to the already grandiose swell private garden #1. Red fruit jelly, mint jelly and mint tea meet dark chocolate-caramel mousse, plus caramelized banana, some tart-fresh eucalyptus tea, fresh vanilla pulp and dried fig, as well as subtly dirty and smoky after tar and smoke. The slight sweetness is really pleasant and in general the alcohol is perfectly integrated here and virtually imperceptible. Grandiose bottling! As if the best of the rather chocolaty TDL's meet the rather fresh, dirty TDL's and make a perfect baby.😃🙈😍 Has a subtle caroni or caroni finish. Still a super TDL bottling under the radar!🇹🇹💣🌺
Review by Nivius
Most helpful mixed review
Delicious and round TDL, which goes in the fruity direction (orange), but lacks depth and complexity overall. The finish is very short. All in all, I expected more and fortunately only got a sample.
Review by zabo
Edit the second: It still doesn't convince me, sorry. I'm glad the bottle is empty now. After splitting this one and only sipped it briefly, I tasted it again today together with Jarek. I gave it a good half hour in the glass before my co-taster arrived. It developed steadily on the nose during this time. As Jarek aptly put it, in a blind tasting we would probably both have categorized it as a Barbados. For me, it is too well-behaved and the typical T.D.L markers are not clearly recognizable. Nice for sipping. It's not bad, but it didn't really blow me away or trigger any euphoria. The alcohol is well integrated, but it's a little too one-dimensional for me and the finish is too short. In contrast, I find the 2006 Bristol that I had in my glass afterwards much better.
Review by Thunderbird
This is a special TDL, not as classic as I was used to, but very tasty. The nose is very fruity and soft, I also perceive a slightly nutty, savory aroma. On the palate it is very creamy and initially exudes a heavy sweetness, followed by fruit, chocolate and later slightly dirty nuances... very pleasing, the whole thing, The finish is characterized by light wood, vanilla, roasted nuts and sweet fig. I like it very much
Review by Kevin Sorensen 🇩🇰
#4804 09.08.2024 Relaxing with some samples. Nose Fresh, fruity, light wood, vanilla, faint caramel, faint nutts, balanced, cherry. Palate Medium intense, wood, fruits, vanilla, light coconut, cherry, light roasted, faint caramel, faint varnish. Finish Medium long, round, fruits, cherry, faint medicinal, wood, faint caramel, faint mint. The empty glass has light metallic and some fruit candy.
Review by mto75
very balanced TDL. Here, the dirty-mentholy notes are less present, rather the fruity and floral (and a bit of butter cake).
Review by TheRhumhoe
Swell de Spirits explore TDL sous ce Millésime 2005, qui débute sur un nez très doux, arrondi par les arômes caramélisés et pâtissiers. Le fût de chêne a fait son travail, en incorporant des épices douces mais marquées (piment doux, vanille, poivre), et surtout des notes chocolatées, caféinées et des traces de fruits à coque. Après aération, les fruits tropicaux sont plus distincts, notamment la banane et la mangue, mais c’est l’orange qui occupe une bonne partie du verre. Un profil plus classique de chez TDL, qui perturbe presque par cette douceur et presque « monotonie ». En bouche, on retrouve davantage de caractère avec un fruité qui vient en attaque (pêche, mangue, banane, fruits rouges, agrumes). Le bois, les épices et les notes rôties viennent en soutien, appuyées par des notes beurrées et pâtissières toujours aussi gourmandes. Si on décèle un soupçon de menthol et d’eucalyptus, c’est surtout le côté mielleux et sirupeux du jus qui l’emporte. L’alcool est très bien intégré. La finale est de longueur correcte, laissant transparaître les saveurs décrites précédemment, les fruits exotiques et l’eucalyptus donnant le pas, avant que le chocolat noir, les épices et le bois viennent contrebalancer le profil avec un côté légèrement amer, sur le rôti et le cuir. Un TDL bien exécuté, qui souffre néanmoins d’une comparaison avec d’autres TDL plus pêchus en faisant passer la gourmandise avant la complexité.
Review by Timo Groeger
Shop visit Rhum Attitude Brussels May 2025. Took a sample. Next up are two Swells. So this is a T.D.L, I would have guessed that. On the nose woody, nutty and vanilla, but on the palate mostly mint again.
Review by Basti
On the nose just a hint of mint, but more spices, chocolate, caramel, dried fruits and wood. On the palate not really spectacular and somehow unremarkable. Also a bit of mint, wood and spices here. Not particularly intense. Relatively dry.
Review by Mirco
Elegant T.D.L. with a fine balance between tropical fruit, vanilla and a hint of mint. The 18-year aging brings depth without dominating. A subtle but expressive rum that convinces through its harmonious composition.
Review by DomM
Nice TDL. Well balanced with nice mango notes. However, even with very long time in the glas alcohol remains to present on the nose and palate for a better score.
Review by Jussi Piirainen
Another T.D.L for tonight. On the nose: Woody, roasted, dry. Vanilla notes. Light orange peel notes. Roasted coffee and chocolate notes. Taste: Slightly syrupy mouthfeel. Woody, vanilla, little bit of honey notes and minty/eucalyptus note. Dark chocolate notes. Little bit of mango notes. Light spicy notes in the background like light peppery notes and nutmeg notes. Good level of intensity. Finish: Woody notes, minty/menthol notes. Dark chocolate notes. Light peppery notes in the background. Long finish. This one didnt offer much to me on the nose even after it did sit in the glass for about 30 minutes, but the tasting palate saved alot. This had more typical T.D.L notes in it, but it still also offered nice variety of other notes.
Review by Jakob
Rather classic TDL, i.e. without the present mint-menthol aroma that characterizes many post-2000 TDL releases. However, this does not mean that this release has to hide - what happens here between caramel, vanilla, chocolate, dried fruit, wood notes and spices is really fun. Smooth, but not at the expense of finesse and elegance. Great!
Review by Maxime Clr 🇫🇷
Nice selection from Swell, but a notch below the Clos des Spiritueux TDL in my opinion. We're not on the current markers of the TDLs coming out at the moment. Beautiful bottle, very marked by the bourbon. Very patissier side with red and tropical fruit and lots of vanilla. Superbly integrated alcohol.
Review by Romain de L
Super nose : fresh, minty, but not too sugary, quite original and compelling. Taste is quite balanced - clear taste, smooth to the tongue, good alcohol integration - precise in a way. Long finish - very pleasant to enjoy
Review by CaRaph
I'm not an expert, but being the first to post a review, for what it's worth here's what I thought : The nose is delicious, soft and very balanced. Lots of flavours starting with wood, dark chocolate and vanilla. Then come many tropical fruits especially ripe banana. Tones of tar and smoke follow along with caramelized nuts. As the glass empties gradually came some flavours of orange, grape and funnily some slight tones of moka. In the mouth, it begins with wood, butter and dark chocolate. Vanilla is following with banana, mango and red fruits. A warm taste of copper accompagnies the whole thing. The finish is long, woody, with tropical fruits, chocolate and vanilla still there along tones of copper. The empty glass was pretty interesting and delicious too : mixed flavours of coffee, vanilla and unexpectedly incense, frangipane and pastries that I wouldn't have imagined to find there. This is a very good, balanced and complex rum with alcohol so perfectly integrated that it seemed to be pretty under the 62.1 % rate written on the bottle. Not comparable for example with Velier's Warren Khong 2010 Hampden Diamond , also very good but whose 62 % are really hot in the mouth. I had already had some very good Caronis, this was my first TDL and I'm glad to have bought this bottle.
Review by Skyfly
For me, a completely new representative among TDLs. The nose would have made me think more of Guyana. The typical mint only becomes noticeable on the palate and finish. Primarily, wood, caramel, and vanilla can be sensed.
Review by Filip Šikula
A very very special T.D.L, but once again it confirms to me that everything that swell de spirit fills is just good. Fruity and floral notes in the aroma. After sipping, first an intense sweet profile, later fruit.
Review by Pavel Spacek
Incredibly soft but tasty TDL... Beautiful matte bottle under 100€. You can feel the alcohol, but very drinkable. I recommend it even to beginner rum drinkers to discover new flavors. The mint from TDL is an unmistakable taste that you'll never get tired of.
Review by V. Chbrd
A very surprising rum by its alcohol integration! A fruity and pastry-like indulgence that you would tend to rate around 50 degrees (or even less!). A very nice surprise worth checking out 😍
Review by Jacques etdom
A very beautiful tasting note focused on fruit. The mango is intense, a bit of eucalyptus, brown sugar, red fruits. Nice length. Very nice selection!
Review by alex
I find it very good. On the nose, I find a slight smell of raspberries in addition to fig, with caramel, vanilla. What I appreciate is that you feel the menthol or eucalyptus side a little less. On the palate, it's about the same sensations with a little buttery side. It's rather indulgent. Medium length and the alcohol is well integrated.
Review by Morgan Garet
A very fruity nose (mostly red fruit), waxed wood like old furniture, then caramel and a touch of chocolate adding a nice gourmand touch. On the palate, grapefruit dominates strongly with a nice menthol background. The wood and chili spice it all up. Long finish on grapefruit and menthol.
Review by Vincent D
A very smooth T.D.L on the nose. Notes of caramel and vanilla. A subtle woodiness despite the age. Banana, ripe. On the palate, it's darker. You find the pastry notes but also red fruits and vegetal notes. The finish brings bitterness, like cherry pits. Nice. But high proof for me.
Review by passlemix
A discreet nose that gains by opening up: cocoa, mocha, orange and mango in the background. A little menthol touch in the mouth that reminds of Trinidad. Peppery at the end of the mouth. A complex TDL all in finesse. Nothing massive, heavy or too dirty here or dominant. The kind of juice for which a sample seems too little to fully appreciate and explore. Good thing I have a bottle. Note that I think will slightly increase after further tastings. Empty glass prunes.
Review by Schnubbii
This T.D.L. has the minty-plant notes of the older vintages (2001-2003), but not as pronounced yet. Instead, it has a somewhat nutty component. I find it tasty, definitely a good bottling, but it doesn't excite me as much as, for example, the RdL 2002 or the Whisky Jury.
Review by Buddudharma
Im Profil eine Mischung aus der frühen 2000er mit stärkeren Column-Still-Anteilen. Nicht schlecht, aber kann in Summe nicht mit den besten Abfüllungen von TDL mithalten.
Review by hugo148
Superb pastry nose on almond, I feel like entering a bakery filled with king cakes with frangipane... I love this smell! On the palate the attack is much more straightforward. The wood at first gives way to a very good dark chocolate and finally returns to the pastry side of the nose. The alcohol is still there with these 62% but not disturbing. The length is moderately long and very pleasant. It's a very good rum!!!
Review by Nicofr
I found this rum quite peculiar, the ripe fruit notes are definitely there but very light. The alcohol, on the other hand, is too present. I wonder if my sample had an issue because it had a drip mark.
Review by John Coffey
Red fruits, vanilla, a Barbados vibe that gives it a sweetness rarely seen in the latest Trinidads.. Not the level of the 2000 but still a good product.
Review by Pavel Ungr, RumRock
Vintage 2005. With 8.6 out of 10, it belongs to the better ones I've had in my glass.
Review by LesTontonsMaltés
Incredible! Aromatic power
Review by Antoine Lesieur
Really enjoying this. The nose is solid with a subtle complexity, with a full profile of fruit, wood and spice. Lots of toasted smoky oak, with plenty of vanilla and caramel notes - intertwined with banana, apricot, peaches, cooked apple, and peppery cinnamon. Where this feels particularly good is in the mouth - velvety, sweet, unctuous, with notes of honey and banana coming through. If the nose was a bit more pronounced this would be a stunner.
Review by bibi la légende
Swell de Spirits Private Garden #4 TDL 2005 62.1° Tasted as a sample Great product, very representative of the TDL style. I don't find the nose very expressive, but the palate is an explosion of tropical fruits, yellow fruits, mango, passion fruit, peach candy! Followed by more medicinal notes of eucalyptus, camphor, with a minty touch that stays with us until the end, as well as a nice, fairly light woodiness.
Review by Thefrenchagave
On the nose: A nice sweet side blending caramel and vanilla, with elegant woodiness and a floral touch reminiscent of vanilla flower. On the palate: Very indulgent, with vanilla and ripe banana, with a smooth woodiness! The heat is ultimately very controlled, much softer than what the 62.1° would suggest. A superb tasting to end the year, a real sweetness, a true delight.
Review by Rhumakase
Nose of mint, peach, exotic fruits, a bit floral, also honey. Oily, very indulgent palate with mint and peach, also exotic fruits, enlivened by harmonious spices throughout (pepper, vanilla) and woodiness. Very good!
Review by ElReyTristan
Couleur cuivre assez profonde. Au nez petit caramel et tofee ainsi que des noix, coco, pécan, macadamia. Goudron aussi en notes terciaires. En bouche c’est plus astringeant, même pas très gourmand, on a un chocolat noir, du cuivre et du goudron. La finale elle est mentholée.
Review by Buzz Stark
Very, very nice rum. The nose made me think of some Gingerbread. The mouth was full and complexe, with a very surprising Mentol taste in the finish. As we let the glass breath longer, the Rhum starts to get a little "dirty". Only regret is that 50cl isn't enough.
Review by Michal S
Solid Trinidad, woody with red fruit and roasted notes.
Review by Julien Ries
Le nez demande une longue aération pour s'ouvrir, car il est très discret et léger au prime abord. Pour autant, il a des choses à raconter. Le cassis typique est bien là, mais noyé sous une puissance alcoolique qui pique les narines. On trouve du coing et de la pêche, mêlé à de la vanille discrète. Le tout est assez frais. Des élans de cacao amer, mais aussi (et curieusement) de plat en sauce (genre échalotes revenues dans du beurre et du miel) pointent par ci par là. C'est gourmand, complexe, mais discret. La bouche fait pschitt. Peu complexe, elle déçoit énormément. Passé une première brûlure, il ne se passe pas grand chose : du miel discret, un peu de mélasse, un peu de caramel et sucre vergeoise. Le cassis pointe le bout de son nez en apportant un peu d'astringence à cette rondeur. La finale est courte pour un TDL lourd. On est sur du vanillé et un peu de piment végétarien. Rien de sensationnel dans ce rhum, alors que j'en attendais beaucoup. Les TDL font partie de mes rhums préférés avec les Foursquares et les Hampdens. Ici je suis déçu : 72/100.
Review by Righrum
The fruity notes are the usual of TDL, Yellow fruits, but also chocolate and sugar syrup. Some mint is there, but it's not the balsamic one, rather a mint syrup, except for the final that becomes really fresh. Not enough, by the way, to be considered a rum worth buying, there are plenty of Better TDL around there.
This selection contains no written reviews in this rating range.
Expert reviews
Reviews from RumX's blog partners, independent experts who have tasted, evaluated, and described this rum.
Expert review by Tasting Bro's
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Swell de Spirits T.D.L Private Garden #4 2005 at live auctions
A bid is not a final price: the house sets the buyer's premium, shipping and any customs duty.
All live auctions ›Community shelf
69 bottles logged by 61 collectors.
Both drunk and collected.
20% opened, 7 emptied.
What does Swell de Spirits T.D.L Private Garden #4 2005 cost?
Community paid 134–154 €.
Current best price: 147.76 € – within the typical community range.
Purchase prices reported by members, not a shop price. Avg. 149 €. Full price & collection history in RX+ ›
69 purchased · 87 tasted · 45 wishlist · as of
Details about Swell de Spirits T.D.L Private Garden #4 2005
A Column Still Rum from Trinidad, bottled by Swell de Spirits, at 62,1%.
Read on in the RumX Guide
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Swell de Spirits T.D.L Wonders of the World Single Cask Series 13 2009
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