Aroma visualization from community tastings
Vagabond Spirits T.D.L 2008
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"Peach-mint iced tea" is the phrase that keeps coming up, and that's the classic TDL heart here. But this one goes darker: blackcurrant and menthol up front, then a big smoky, almost bacon-and-BBQ streak that surprises people before it settles with air. Underneath sit mango, oak and spice. At 61% it's powerful but the alcohol is well integrated — a few drops of water pull the herbs and smoke into focus.
The community says- Menthol-cassis core
- Smoky depth
- Keep in mind: Heavy bacon note
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Offers & prices
No shop currently delivers to Germany.
Auction results: 157–171 € (2 sales in 24 months, incl. buyer's premium, latest 03/2026). How the range is built ›
Buying advice
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Yes, if you're after bold, fresh, grassy rums for sipping neat.
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The look inside the bottle
How does Vagabond Spirits T.D.L 2008 taste?
From community reviews · summarized with AI
Smoky, minty TDL with a dark bacon streak A near-unanimous hit — tasters love the dark, smoky twist on the usual TDL menthol-and-cassis. If that heavy bacon-smoke note isn't your thing, air it out first.
TDL fans wanting a darker, smokier profile
anyone put off by heavy smoke
Style & occasion: Fresh & grassyMature & oakySipping neat
Full aroma profile Aroma families · nose & palate · top aromas
Relative to this rum's strongest aroma family
27 of 48 left detailed tasting impressions · Click an aroma to explore similar rums
Which glass for which rum? The community guide ›
What does the community say?
48 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.
28 selected written reviews
The distribution above includes all 48 ratings, including those without text.
Review by Jakob
Great overall package of menthol, wood and fruit with great complexity. The sweetness expands on the finish, revealing both caramel and vanilla sugar notes, but also very delicate fruit sweetness, which suits the overall profile very well. Excellent TDL, I like the release very much.
Review by Christian Rudt
Exciting TDL from the still young bottler from France, which I am now able to try thanks to the community. 😊 The nose is initially characterized by menthol, typical TDL with some citrus fruit and above all blackcurrants. Already very appealing. The blackcurrants are still very present on the palate, with the TDL mint coming through strongly and the whole thing is underpinned by a pronounced smokiness. The finish is more floral, spicy and bacony, slightly tannic, the fruit is still there but only plays a minor role. A great bottling.
Review by zabo
A very pleasant representative from Trinidad. On the nose, wood and mint. On the palate, a nice caramel note comes through. The alcohol is perfectly integrated and not noticeable at all. Too bad I probably missed this bottling. Definitely a lot of fun.
Review by crazyforgoodbooze
WTF?! Since when has grilled and candied bacon been part of Trinidad's flavor spectrum? Could it also be an Islay finish or intermediate storage? The nose starts off classically with cassis, mint, and vanilla and rather subtle smoky notes, but aromatically there is a really unusual amount of smoke, umami, and bacon coming through along with cassis, mint, and caramel. Weird, extremely unusual, but also very tasty. It's like caramelizing blackcurrants in bacon fat with sugar and sprinkling a few mint leaves on top.😅 But this smokiness is definitely not for every day; you have to really be in the mood for it. I would prefer the Spiritori 2008 here. On the second try, it still has a slight Islay finish.
Review by Thunderbird
A surprisingly very good bottling. It is more on the fruity side, which suits it very well. The initial sweetness on the palate is also a good introduction to the sweet and sour fruit flavors that follow. The finish is dominated by the minty, fresh side and flanked by dried red fruits and light tannins.
Review by lukasdrinkinghabits
I tried this one months ago. The massive spesky note disturbed me so much that I didn't give the rum another chance for a long time. Today is the day again. After more than an hour in the air, the bacon is no longer so present. In direct comparison with the 2008s from Swell and Spiritori, the Vagabond is still significantly smokier. Behind that, the nose is actually very nice with all the typical TDL markers: keyword peach-mint iced tea. Today I like the nose very much, only sometimes the bacon still flashes. The rums are quite similar, the Spiritori a little more expressive, the Swell a little more closed. In the mouth, the bacon is even more present - with honey BBQ sauce. But that doesn't go at all badly with the peach and mint iced tea. Also other TDL markers like ginger, menthol and allspice. The Spiritori is even more fruity, but also brings a mentholated astringency. The Swell is a touch milder than the other two, but the profile is very similar except for that BBQ note. The alcohol integration could be slightly better. The finish of this batch is not quite as long as the older ones from 2003 or earlier. The finish of all three is without unpleasant bitterness, but also without any positive surprises. The bacon mote is easy to quench and a very tasty TDL remains afterwards. I'm glad I tried it again. I give them all the same rating. Overall, the three rums are pretty much on a par with the well-known 2009s.
Review by TheJackDrop
Wow, what a slap in the face! The nose is quite linear but very fruity and almost smoky. On the palate, it's an uppercut! Stunned by the fruit, the tea, the menthol, for me lots of mango and peach, A beautiful finish that never ends, hats off to you!
Review by Dr.Django
The great design of Vagabond is not a blender. This rum is very cool! Menthol, fruit of all kinds, wood, burnt sugar, spices... Very complex and, as we all know, the best comes at the end: an outstanding finish! Wow, it's powerful and complex.
Review by Gunnar Böhme "Bauerngaumen" 🤓
More of a TDL from the darker side of aromas. Strong and deep. I like it very much.
Review by Djehey
New bottler in the region. I like its slogan "bottler of creativity". Here, the rum has undergone additional maturation in a barrel made with steam (not fire). What's striking is the exotic fruitiness (pineapple, mango). The woodiness is most noticeable on the finish (tannins), but brings vanilla and structure. Some of TDL's own empyreumatic notes are more in the background, with a certain elegance. The whole is very pleasant, with very well-integrated alcohol. One of my favorite tel. The price is right for what you get.
Review by Johannes
Amazingly fruity TDL. Alcohol very well integrated.
Review by Gregor
Nose: cocoa beans, herbs, grassy, vanilla, a bit of wood. Palate: daisies, mint, menthol, cashew nuts, iced tea, pencil, nicely balanced, alcohol noticeable but quite well integrated for 61%. I like it.
Review by Vincent D
Mentholated nose and red fruits, especially blackcurrant. A nice vanilla. Pineapple as well. No surprise here but it makes you want to try it. On the palate, it's first extremely sweet. The menthol refreshes the mouth. A very present chili. Green tea, cinnamon. It's varied and complex. You could spend a long time dissecting this rum. Woody notes at the end of the mouth and a very long and pleasant finish. Very nice rum.
Review by Mentalo
Nice, complex T.D.L. Pleasant sweetness, fruity/berry, mint, menthol and wood. Well balanced. Even the alcohol is well integrated for T.D.L standards. Exactly what I expect from T.D.L.
Review by Schnubbii
Tasted against the FRC Bottleshop TDL 2009 / RX18328. On the nose the FRC comes very fruity-minty, the Vagabond rather smoky-spicy. On the palate the FRC then really very fruity, nicely supported by the fresh mint aromas, all very harmonious. Not extraordinarily complex, but very easy drinking. Very different the Vagabond. Many herbs, drier and in direct comparison much less fruity than the FRC, stronger on the attack and also a bit sharper. Over everything lies a subtle smoky note. The FRC becomes even more easy drinking and easy-drinking with some water than it already is. But you shouldn't give it too much water, otherwise it becomes too flat. The Vagabond also becomes more accessible with some water and I even like it better that way than neat. The alcohol doesn't bite anymore and it drinks better, its individual facets from various herbs and subtle smoke come out better. In the finish both are medium long, the FRC with more fruit, the Vagabond with more herbs. All in all I would say that the Vagabond perhaps offers a bit more complexity than the FRC, but I personally like the FRC a bit better because of the special fruitiness. Both great bottlings, whereby the FRC offers the better price/enjoyment ratio.
Review by Alexander Rasch
Great TDL with lots of fruit and smoke on the nose. Nice cherry with bacon. Very tasty. Absolutely brilliant on the palate and a little wow moment. Thick smoked bacon with mint is something new. Beautifully complex and delicious. More herbs and menthol at the end. Fantastic.
Review by TheRhumhoe
Vagabond Spirit found a gem among the TDL 2008. The nose is dense and complex, containing many Trinidadian aromas: menthol, blackcurrant, peach, but also dark and smoky wood, spices, and leather provide a lush and empyreumatic framework, it's splendid to smell. Intense and balanced, the nose is very elegant.
Review by Julien Ries
The nose immediately brings us to something dirty, like Caroni. There is tire, hydrocarbons, used oil, mixed with typical Trinidad and Tobago markers: blackcurrant like kir and menthol. There is also candied apple, or rather dry cider, a bit of spiciness, with refined leather. You can perceive a bit of rhubarb that further asserts the fruity side of this rum, with a slight refined woodiness. Too good and complex!!! The mouth confirms the garage side, more marked than the nose. The menthol is also there, with eucalyptus as well. We find again this blackcurrant liqueur, with licorice. The end of the mouth continues on tobacco and caramel. You would never think this is a 61° rum. You would give it 45° at most! The finish is very long, indicating that we are on a heavy TDL, with coffee and ash. The empty glass brings aged leather. A delight! It is very close to a Spiritori TDL, even if the latter is even more marked on the dirty side. Obliged, a note in excellence: 92/100
Review by DeMaddin
Very good TDL. This comes with the typical fresh herbal notes. The fruit notes very well integrated, as well as the ABV. You can taste that on the palate. The nicely spicy, woody notes come out well. Followed by a nice fresh, spicy, fruity finish.
Review by Fabulon
Magnificent bottling, with a very interesting price. Typical of the TDL heavy, with menthol, blackcurrant, beautiful woodiness, spices, and that little dirty/mechanic workshop side. Very long and extremely pleasant finish with wonderful menthol and a smoky side. Excellent!
Review by Maxime Clr 🇫🇷
A very nice nose of red fruits and menthol. Leather and smoke accompany all that. On the palate it’s much rougher, powerful, on spices, well-cooked tropical fruits, smoke. A beautiful finish.
Review by MJ97
Nose: very fruit-forward. Exotic fruit salad at ripeness, with orange and apple too. Blindfolded I might have said low ester Jamaican. There’s wood and spices linked to the wood but very gourmand. Palate: I get a gourmand peach side that I didn’t have on the nose. Exotic fruits still well present with a beautiful gourmand wood (similar to the nose). A hint of freshness (menthol) is added. Quite balanced but watch out for the alcohol which is quite present (but not disturbing).
Review by Jean Louisss
Impressive. A TDL of impressive complexity, there's everything, it's a delight! A fruit salad, with dark notes and indulgence on top... In short, a masterclass.
Review by Adrien B
Nose. Merino wax, then hydrocarbon smoke, fresh red fruit Palate. Power, freshness, spice, top length. Only a tiny downside, wood a bit astringent
Review by Arnaud Faverjon
A real little bomb, a complex and original profile for a TDL, heavy and greedy, excellent!
Review by Renato
A very empyreumatic rum right from the nose, which is rather rare. Vegetal notes on the palate. Lots of power and richness. Good length. Excellent.
Review by Mc Pirate
Very Trinidad nose of blackcurrant, very alcoholic palate of exotic fruit. Warm yellow fruit finish.
Review by Vidaa Wz
It's a little one! A real treat with the markers we love from trinidad distillers limited, Good fruit, both dirty and greedy, it's too much. I really recommend Nicolas' work with this super product.
This selection contains no written reviews in this rating range.
Vagabond Spirits T.D.L 2008 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
56 bottles logged by 37 collectors.
Both drunk and collected.
25% opened, 6 emptied.
What did the community pay for Vagabond Spirits T.D.L 2008?
Community paid 114–130 €.
Purchase prices reported by members, not a shop price. Avg. 117 €. Price history with 2 auction results in RX+ ›
56 purchased · 52 tasted · 29 wishlist · as of
Details about Vagabond Spirits T.D.L 2008
A rum from Trinidad, bottled by Vagabond Spirits, at 61%.
Read on in the RumX Guide
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