Overview
Brand: La Maison & Velier, Flag series
Origin: Trinidad Distillers Ltd, Laventille, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
Still: Column
Age: 20 years
Finish: ex-Bourbon
ABV: 63.1%
Following its sibling release, we're finishing release number one of the La Maison & Velier Flag Series with Trinidad 2002. While I do enjoy Guyana rums, I was a bit more excited to see a cask strength Trinidad rum featured as a part of this celebratory offering.
Flag Series Trinidad 2002 is a 20 year old rum, originally distilled at Trindad Distillers, Ltd., on one of their column stills in 2002. Unlike Guyana 1998, this rum was aged in an ex-Bourbon cask (#TD02TML02) for the entirety of the process: it spent 15 years aging in Trinidad, and the 5 remaining years in Europe. The rum was bottled at a cask strength of 63.1% ABV, yielding 240 bottles in total.
I can't wait to dive in to see what this rum has to offer. Once again, Mike Hooker of the Austin Rum Society provided this sample to me; thanks Mike!
Appearance
Honey gold, high clarity, medium viscosity
Nose
Red Jujufruit candy, pomegranate, vanilla, pastry dough, blueberries, date syrup, raspberries
Palate
Raspberries, vanilla, hot honey, blueberries, cinnamon, cherry cough syrup
Finish
Medium-long, warm, savory; vanilla, oak, cinnamon, blueberry pie, medium-spicy peppers, tart raspberries, light smokiness
Rating: 9/10
Summary
Trinidad 2002 is another fitting rum to celebrate the company's special occasion. I've lately been saying how I'm a big fan of higher proof column still rums, and this reinforces my feeling. Bold but not overpowering, and another well-aged rum that doesn't show too much oak (despite two decades of maturation).
The red Jujufruit opening on the nose signals some sweetness down the line, but instead I'm met with more tart fruits and savory baking spices. That isn't to say this isn't nice on the palate: there's a very elegant mouthfeel to the rum, and there is still some sweetness in a hot honey type note, as well as fruity raspberries, blueberries, and date syrup. Cherry cough syrup comes through the palate into the finish as a fruity but bitter element, before easing into vanilla, cinnamon, and slightly spicy peppers.
This is every bit as enjoyable as I hoped it would be! I'm definitely glad I got to try this, even though it may not be find-able in the wild anymore. I hope the exposure this bottle got prompts more US-based independent bottlers to seek out TDL distillate at or near cask strength. This and the Guyana 1998 are excellent, and the folks at LM&V should take pride in the work they continue to do, bringing quality rums to American consumers.