Swell de Spirits T.D.L Private Garden No. 14 (Clos des Spiritueux) 2005
For experienced palates: a 17‑year TDL finished in a very active Caroni cask at 61.6%. RumX members love its dirty, smoky, tarry profile with caramel, mint, dried fruit and a very long finish.
- Intense dirty smoke
- Long complex finish
- Well-integrated alcohol
Details about Swell de Spirits T.D.L Private Garden No. 14 (Clos des Spiritueux) 2005
Live auctions
Current bids for this rum at Europe's leading auction houses.
How does Swell de Spirits T.D.L Private Garden No. 14 (Clos des Spiritueux) 2005 taste?
Aggregated from 18 community reviews.
Intense TDL meets smoky Caroni For experienced palates: a 17‑year TDL finished in a very active Caroni cask at 61.6%. RumX members love its dirty, smoky, tarry profile with caramel, mint, dried fruit and a very long finish.
Seasoned enthusiasts who enjoy high-ABV, dirty Caroni-style smoke layered over classic minty, caramel Trinidad notes and want a challenging, characterful sipper.
Those sensitive to high ABV or who dislike smoky, whisky-like, tarry profiles that dominate over the original TDL fruitiness.
How is Swell de Spirits T.D.L Private Garden No. 14 (Clos des Spiritueux) 2005 rated?
RumX's 0–10 scale is strict — 8.5 lands squarely in the "Very good" band. 100% of tasters rate it Good or better; only 0% rate it below average. See the full rating guide →
Rum reviews
A selection of the most popular reviews from our community. You can view the complete list in our app.
Review by Thunderbird
The Caroni barrel did a great job! I could almost imagine that there was still a good amount of residual moisture. The fresh T.D.L aromas (mint, menthol, eucalyptus) are still perceptible, as is a burnt caramel sweetness ... but that's it. The rest is a nice strong dirty caronia aroma. I like it a lot... Blindly I would have guessed a pure but weaker Caroni
Review by mto75
First of all, I looked up what I had noted in the other two 2005 TDLs I had tasted so far (Rhum Attitude, Swell PG #4). There were yellow fruits, floral, subtle menthol and buttery cookies. This one is clearly different, much more on dirty notes (bicycle inner tube, tar, engine room). The Caroni cask has clearly left its mark. Also dried fruit and caramel. I would be blind here without any problems with Caroni. Charred barrel on the palate and the torched remains of the old tire dealer, almost like the 94 Velier Guyana Stock. But I think it's good 😁One minus point for the finish, which is too salty for me...
Review by Joachim Guger
Schöne Nase, Caroni ist gut erkennbar, könnte auch Lagavulin sein.🏴🏴🏴 Im Mund dann sehr kräftig, pelzig und viele Kräuter. Im Abgang geht es ähnlich weiter… Rauchig, Lagavulin kommt wieder ins Spiel. Mit etwas Wasser wird er weicher und runder. Gut gelungenes Finish! Danke nach Bonn!
Review by BnBrt
Un très bon rhum. Je trouve le nez incroyable et plein de promesses, mais pas toutes délivrées. Nez très intéressant caramel à l'ouverture puis sur le fruit confit, pruneau avec une pointe de fraîcheur (agrume ?). Quand il s'ouvre un peu sur le cuir. Très intéressant. Attaque franche, je ne retrouve pas le fruit - plus gras, un côté "passage à l'étable" avec le cuir et le tabac blond et du fumé. Longueur très intéressante, un peu de cuir qui ressort.
Review by John Coffey
Très marqué par le fut c'est incroyable..on sent bien le côté fumé
Review by Mc Pirate
Premier nez sur le foin et le lait ! Odeur très fermière et me rappelle le passage des vaches dans la machine à traire. Le végétal l’emporte d’une petite longueur. Bouche très forte avec du sucre sur le bout de la langue puis de l’alcool avec beaucoup d’exter !
Review by SaibotZtar
Uiuiui ... The Caroni finish is clearly noticeable... lots of dirty notes in the nose ... Dried fruit, chocolate, tar, rubber, some leather polish and a pleasant sweetness. The rum needs easily a 3/4h time rather more ... On the palate there is first an oily sweetness ... immediately comes a brutal smoky note that I don't like at all (I don't like smoky at all) ... this remains almost alone on the tongue for a long time ... A little later there is some fruit and bitterness (rubber, leather), very light mint and some barrel. For me, however, the smokiness predominates, which personally pushes the points down. Without this smoky influence it would certainly have been an 85+. Alcohol perfectly integrated.
Review by Mentalo
Das Caroni Fass Finish überlagert viel vom T.D.L. Paar fruchtig-beerige Noten, leicht Karamellige Süße und bisschen Menthol. Ansonsten dominiert der Caroni. Leider mit einer ausgeprägten rauchigen Noten. Vor allem der Abgang ist penetrant rauchig und süß. Leider nicht meins.
Community purchases
48 bottles logged by 52,000+ RumX members. The ratio of closed / opened / emptied, indicates whether this rum is meant to be drunk or is a collector's item.
Also on the wishlist of 15 members.
About the T.D.L distillery
The T.D.L distillery is located in Trinidad. Rums from T.D.L have been reviewed 7,733 times with an average of 8.3/10.
To T.D.L →You may also enjoy
Rum enthusiasts who like this rum have also given the following rums high ratings:
Swell de Spirits T.D.L Private Garden #4 2005
Swell de Spirits T.D.L Private Garden #4 2005Elegant, powerful Trinidad charmer
Swell de Spirits Los Convidados Satvrnal Mexican Rum (High Ester) 2023
Swell de Spirits Los Convidados Satvrnal Mexican Rum (High Ester) 2023Salty, smoky, mezcal-style funk bomb
Swell de Spirits Isautier Wild Nature Series 2011
Swell de Spirits Isautier Wild Nature Series 2011Dry, complex Cognac‑aged agricole
Zéro Nine Spirits T.D.L Steampunk 2 2006
Zéro Nine Spirits T.D.L Steampunk 2 2006Sweet, pastry TDL for relaxed sipping
Savanna Unshared Cask for France 2016
Savanna Unshared Cask for France 2016Dry, menthol‑chocolate Savanna powerhouse
Swell de Spirits Papa Rouyo That‘s The Spirit ! 2022
Swell de Spirits Papa Rouyo That‘s The Spirit ! 2022Punchy, characterful white agricole
Don't miss out on any more deals on Swell de Spirits T.D.L Private Garden No. 14 (Clos des Spiritueux) 2005.
Set a target price in the app, and we'll let you know as soon as the rum becomes available at that price from one of our partner stores. This works for any rum on your wish list.
Oliver · FounderBy rum lovers, for rum lovers
I'm Oliver — together with Jakob, Robert and Lukas, we started RumX in 2018 as a small passion project in Stuttgart, back then under the name Rum Tasting Notes.
What began as a digital tasting diary is now the world's most comprehensive platform for rum fans. We combine the collective intelligence of our community with an integrated marketplace, so you can choose with confidence — without paperwork, detours, or expert jargon.
Oliver, Stuttgart
About RumX →
