Tomatin revamped their packaging last year, and also released a couple limited editions. One of those is the Tomatin 1995 21 Years Old Oloroso Finish, of which only 1912 bottles hit the market.
According to the label, it was initially matured in traditional oak casks, which I take to be (refill) ex-bourbon casks. The whisky was transferred in 2013, spending an additional three years on oloroso sherry hogsheads.
Tomatin 1995 21 Years Old Oloroso Finish (46%, OB)
Nose: The oloroso sherry is very noticeable from the get-go, but not too dominant. Sultanas, cherry candy cane, nuts and faint tobacco. But there’s also vanilla and a distinct layer of dried grass. A hint of cardboard. Fresher fruits towards the end, as well as meringue. A very dynamic nose.
Taste: Sweet and juicy, with oranges, red grapes and cherry syrup. There’s a touch of oaky bitterness, as well as some mild spices, like cracked black pepper and cloves.
Finish: The spices linger on, with some sherry fruitiness too. Fairly long.
Rating: 88
Watering it down to 46 percent seems to be a good choice in this case, because it is a very powerful whisky still. The balance is good, and it is rich in flavour too. I’d say this is a very successful finish.
