A little while ago I had a lot of fun exploring Tomatin’s Cù Bòcan range, but it’s time to return to the distillery’s unpeated single malt. Actually, I’ll be diverting my attention not to their core range but rather the Travel Retail range of Tomatin, by way of the Tomatin 15 Years American Oak.
I don’t have much of a preamble here, except that I always like to refer to my distillery visit from many years ago. Still one of the best I ever done. I brought back some friends a couple of years after and they loved it too. Tomatin is such a unique distillery. It’s great to visit if you’re a novice. (Unless you want a romantic, traditional looking distillery, then you should just go to Strathisla or something.)
Tomatin is probably even better if you already have a number of distillery visits under your belt. It’s different, quirky, and gigantic in all the right ways without ever coming across as massive as Glenlivet or Glenfiddich. It has an interesting history and is just all around extremely likeable. But enough of that…
Let’s have a dram, shall we?
Tomatin 15 Years (46%, OB, 2020)
Nose: Somewhat subdued. Subtle would be another fitting descriptor. There’s note of wood shavings followed by sweetness and freshness. Stewed apples, peaches and just a whisper of pear skin. A sliver of honey too.
Taste: Sweet, gentle arrival with honey and orchard fruits, followed by some cinnamon, cloves and light touches of white pepper.
Finish: Lingering spices and a bitter coffee grounds. Medium in length.
Score: 81
A perfectly fine whisky that won’t light your world on fire, but is a decent example of a middle-aged, bourbon matured Scotch whisky. I wouldn’t decline a dram if someone offered me one.
Photo: The Whisky Exchange
