Tomatin - Usquebaugh Society clubbottling 2016

Sjoerd was kind enough to send over a sample of the Tomatin Usquebaugh Society club bottling 2016. This whisky is distilled on 13/05/2004 and bottled on 05/04/2016 at 60%. Matured for 11 years in a 1st fill bourbon barrel number #35281.

On the nose I find some freshly cut grass, red apples, banana, fudge, vanilla, marshmallow sweetness, vanilla sponge cake, tutti frutti, graphite, hint of wood, clove, laurel and fennel. A waxy sweetness with fruity notes of pineapple juice, pomolo, oranges and green apples.

The palate is much as the nose predicts with a sweet and fruity feeling with a hint of spices, candied fruit slices, creamy vanilla, toffee, honey, pencil shavings and warm chocolate milk with marshmallows. On the medium length finish I find that hint of wood again but now combined with fresh citrus and herbal notes. Scoring me an 7,5/10 but that is due to the woody note and pencil note in it that is making it a bit bitter dry on the nose, palate and finish. Giving me a bit rough feeling in it. Next to that a balanced sweet fruity and spicy dram for sure, thanks for sharing Sjoerd!

Cù Bòcan 2005

From Tomatin recently a limited 2005 vintage edition of the peated Cù Bòcan single malt was released at a strength of 50% after maturing in ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks. As with the previous editions the Cù Bòcan brand is named after a mythical Highland hell hound which was rumoured to haunt the village of Tomatin. It is a lovely expression with something different then what I normally find in Tomatin whiskies. Curious to read what I found in the other expressions? Have a look here to also read about two other Cù Bòcan expressions. 

On the nose I detect some light smoke notes and sweet fruits mixing together with creamy vanilla, sultanas, mocha, ginger, toffee, red apples, banana, blackcurrant jam and soft spices. The palate has some soft sweetness of forrest fruit jam to me together with honey, apple red skin, vanilla, white pepper and light note of herbs in the back. Short to middle length finish with notes of chocolate malt, coffee and fudge. Scoring me an 7,5/10 but that is just due to the palate and finish to me could have been just a bit more stronger... Lovely dram again but the Cù Bòcan 1989 still keeps to be my favourite so far. Thanks Tomatin for sending over a sample to nose and taste! Cant wait to see what more will be released in the future!

Gordon & MacPhail - Connoisseurs Choice - Tomatin 1997/2014

From Gordon & MacPhail a sample was send over from the Connoisseurs Choice range in the #WoodMTW campaign. This whisky is from the Tomatin Distillery and distilled in 1997, matured in refill Bourbon barrels and bottled on the 16th of October 2014 at 46%

The nose has a bit thick and dry tobacco note to it at first. I get lime, banana, thick vanilla, raisins and a light fennel and toffee note after that on it. Some different orchard fruits with a creamy fruity sweet feeling to it... The palate has a sweet and light floral note. Definitely fruity just like the nose. Thick creamy, milky feeling on the medium length finish with vanilla and caramel. There is a light peanut note on the finish in the back with ripe banana and hint of milk chocolate. On the palate I find different fruits, both orchard and tropical. Also some warm baked banana right of the BBQ. A bit dry note of gingerbread also going through it together with some tangerines. Scoring it an 7,5 out of 10, like it for a warm and sweet dram, but missing something in it...

Tomatin - Cù Bòcan 1989 - Tasting Notes

The bearded man 

Tasting the Cù Bòcan 1989 Limited Edition from Tomatin. Compiled out of Bourbon casks 37470, 37471 and 37472 distilled on 7th June 1989. Released in April 2014 at 53,2%.

NoseSweet, toffee, smoldering campfire, bit heather, galia melon, pear, mixed forest fruits, vanilla, fruits, raisin, chili pepper, dark chocolate, spice, ginger, chili pepper, after eight mint and some citrus

Palate
Creamy, sweet, warm, fudge, chocolate, fruit, pear, melon, pharma ham, honey, vanilla, light dry smoke note, but the sweet is on top for sure! Forrest fruit, berries, liquerish and some mint in the back. Creme brulee and almost tropical fruit notes and some coconut. Raisin, warm spices, orange juice and black berries

Finish
Medium to long finish, with sweet, vanilla and brownies notes lingering on for a bit

Score
8,5 out of 10. Loved this one when tasting first at the distillery, and was very grateful Johanne shared this one out of her samples with us for another good taste. Now want a bigger bottle :-)

Tomatin - Cuatro Series - PX Finish - Tasting Notes

In the Twitter Tasting of Tomatin, organized by The Whisky Wire we got the possibility to taste the new Cuatro Series next to each other, all with different Sherry finishes. First up was the Fino Sherry, then followed by Manzanilla, Oloroso and PX. All distilled in 2002, transferred in 2011 for the finish in a Sherry Butt, and then bottled at 12 years old in 2014. Bottled at 46%, non chill filtered and no coloring added.

Nose
Honey, raisin, almonds, marzipan, chocolate, cherries, berries, demerara sugar, rum like spices and flavors. Rich, sweet and honey. Vanilla, prunes, creme brulee, coriander, Christmas cake, red apple and brioche.

Palate
The palate gives me the notes from the nose very well combined with some more spices like black pepper, cinnamon and coconut. Combination of butterscotch and bread and butter pudding comes to mind. Vanilla, creamy, chocolate, fudge, combination of very sweet notes, with ripe fruits entwined and ripe plums.

Finish
Medium length finish with a very sweet mouth feel of the vanilla, fudge and chocolate.

Score

This one feels balanced and fruity, sweet and spicy. It gets from me a good 7,5 out of 10. Very nice. 

Tomatin - Cuatro Series - Oloroso Finish - Tasting Notes

In the Twitter Tasting of Tomatin, organized by The Whisky Wire we got the possibility to taste the new Cuatro Series next to each other, all with different Sherry finishes. First up was the Fino Sherry, then followed by Manzanilla, Oloroso and PX. All distilled in 2002, transferred in 2011 for the finish in a Sherry Butt, and then bottled at 12 years old in 2014. Bottled at 46%, non chill filtered and no coloring added.

Nose
Custard, vanilla, berries, figs, prunes, raspberry, heather honey, anise, cherries and orange marmalade. Raisins and spongecake and also Christmas cake are coming to mind. Spice, blackberries and a little hint of menthol in the back

Palate
This is clearly a bunch of Sherry notes that are coming to the front when tasting this one, feels warming, sweet and balanced. Rum raisin, vanilla, all the different berries from the nose come back and the anise is strong. Honey sweet with a bit dry tobacco leaf combined with some menthol and chocolate. A bit like After Eight sweets? But just very short a hint of it coming through.

Finish
Quite a lengthy finish on this one, filled with the warm notes of chocolate, vanilla, fudge and red peppers

Score

This one is getting from me a good 7,5 out of 10. Very nice and full of warm notes. It feels balanced and this type of Sherry works very well with the spirit of Tomatin I think. Looking back in the tasting this one and the PX are definitely my favorites

Tomatin - Cuatro Series - Fino Sherry Finish - Tasting Notes

In the Twitter Tasting of Tomatin, organized by The Whisky Wire we got the possibility to taste the new Cuatro Series next to each other, all with different Sherry finishes. First up was the Fino Sherry.

Distilled in 2002, transferred in 2011 for the finish in a Fino Sherry Butt, and then bottled at 12 years old in 2014. Bottled at 46%, non chill filtered and no coloring added. Also in the Cuatro Series can be found the following finishes; Manzanilla, Oloroso and PX. All with the same specifics. 

Nose
Hay, citrus, green apple, rosehip and hint of vinegar strangely. Some vanilla in the back and lots of sweat notes. It is a mix of fruit, floral and a bit mossy. At first the sour notes are bit high, like white wine, sour white grapes. But then it becomes more citrus sponge cake, pear juice and overripe melon

Palate
Green sour apples and gooseberry at first. Then some lime, vanilla, liquerish and creamy white chocolate toned the sour notes down. Raisin, cereal, fruit cake and ripe mango.

Finish
The medium length finish gives you a coating of the white chocolate and sultanas in your mouth, very sweet with a hint of lime in the back.

Score
It was clear that this one needs some time to open up a bit. The nose was for me at first a bit too sour, just as the palate was at first. But the palate quickly changed and giving strong sweet notes. It is a nice dram, but not sure if it is a finish I would reach for instantly in the shop. Giving it a 7 out of 10 for now.

Tomatin - Cuatro series - Manzanilla Sherry Finish - Tasting Notes

In the Twitter Tasting of Tomatin, organized by The Whisky Wire we got the possibility to taste the new Cuatro Series next to each other, all with different Sherry finishes. First up was the Fino Sherry, then followed by Manzanilla, Oloroso and PX. All distilled in 2002, transferred in 2011 for the finish in a Sherry Butt, and then bottled at 12 years old in 2014. Bottled at 46%, non chill filtered and no coloring added.

Nose
Sweet, vanilla, raisin, fudge, marzipan and a hint of vegetable notes. Light custard powder coming through with a hint of citrus freshness. Oranges, red apple, dry banana, nutty, and something bit like mushrooms. Sweet marshmallows in the back with beechnuts and some yeastiness.

Palate
Sweet, dried fruits and strong notes of sultana. Vanilla and a light leather/tobacco dryness combined with dark chocolate and nutmeg. Red pepper, brownie, fudge, fruitcake and mint. Very warm notes and sweet.

Finish
Medium length finish, very sweet and a hint of dry tobacco notes stay behind

Score
Giving it a 7 out of 10. The nose and palate are very nice, but to me it just seems a little bit off balance? But that could be me. It is very warm and sweet...

Tomatin - Distillery exclusive edition - ex Sherry 12 YO

At our visit to Tomatin last year we purchased a bottle your own at the shop, one ex Bourbon and one ex Sherry expression. This one I found needs a good dash of water to open up a bit. Wonderful dram, but also very present...

Strength                 57,7% cask strength
Cask type              ex Sherry
Cask filling date     29-03-2002
Bottling date          09-05-2014
Cask number         2036
Bottle number        288
Chill filtered           No

Nose
Sweet, figs, honey, liquerish, dark chocolate, ripe plums, black berries and a hint of tobacco leafs in the back.

It is giving me some notes like walking through a pine forest in the autumn after it has rained and the earthy tones rise up in the air.

Cumin seed and nutmeg notes lingering in the back with some other warm spices. It is honey and black fruit sweet, wintery warm due to the light spices in the back with the liquerish between it, and the pine freshness...

Palate
Tobacco leaf (light), liquerish, raisin, vanilla, honey, heather, mushrooms, figs and black berries.
Baking spices, rich fruit cake, cinnamon, chocolate, fudge, creamy, sweet, lemon and some minty freshness.
The notes from the nose come back strong on the palate with more chocolate and fudge.

Finish
Medium to long finish, filled with cocoa and vanilla and fudge

Score
7,5 out of 10. Balanced and very nice. Definitely needs a good splash of water, and then also some time to open up. But when patient it gives of lovely notes to enjoy. Glad we brought a bottle home from the distillery.

Tomatin - Cù Bòcan - Tasting Notes

Tasted the Tomatin Cù Bòcan from a sample sent by Dave from Whisky Discovery.  Cù Bòcan is a mythical hell hound who has stalked the residents of the village of Tomatin for centuries. This lightly peated whisky at 15ppm has been matured in a combination of ex bourbon, ex sherry and virgin oak casks and bottled at 46% abv. More information is to be found on www.cu-bocan.com

Nose
Smoke, tangerines, lemon twist, biscuits, toffee, creamy, dark chocolate, smoky bbq sauce, bit meaty...
Cinnamon bread and citrus freshness come trough from behind the stronger notes of smoke and dark chocolate.

Palate
Creamy dark chocolate with a whiff of smoke and almonds. Citrus notes with some minty freshness, biscuits, toffee, vanilla, raisin, oranges, grapefruit and dried apricots

Finish
Medium length finish, sweet vanilla and chocolate

Score
Balanced dram, need a bit of time to open up, and reveal the lighter and sweeter flavors. Scored it a 7 at first due to being closed a bit, but thinking of maybe 7,5. It reveals in the end after some time great juicy notes. Thanks Dave for sharing this one with us!

Tomatin - Distillery exclusive edition - ex Bourbon 11 YO

When we were at Tomatin Distillery this year we brought a bottle your own back with us to try at home.

Cask type           ex Bourbon
Cask filling date  08/05/03
Bottling date       08/05/14
Cask number     1903
Bottle number    1
Alc./Vol.            56,3% - cask strength
Chill filtration      No

We were about to tap one our selves from the cask when we noticed this one standing there already done. The date and bottle number where just to cool just to leave there, and decided to not fill our own but "just" take this one. Graham signed it already on the label, but just for a little bit extra and the fun of it he did one more on the label. Definitely a bottle we will be saving when empty to remember the good times spend there that day. You can read all about our time there in the post we wrote earlier about it.


Nose
Vanilla, cream bun (with the yellow cream), powdered sugar, white chocolate, raisin, dried apricots, fresh citrus and mint notes underneath the vanilla creaminess. Fruity sweet combined with some light fresh floral notes.

Palate
Vanilla, cream, chocolate, sweet, honey, light floral, citrus, banana, green apple, pink grapefruit, creme brulee and dense fruit cake. Toffee, raisin, dried apricots, marzipan in the back and some very light black pepper.

Finish
Medium length sweet vanilla and fruity finish with lots of rich chocolate notes.

Score
Scored a good 7,5 out of 10, it is a great dram filled with many different sweet notes

Tomatin - Legacy - Tasting Notes

The Tomatin Legacy is matured in a combination of Bourbon barrels and Virgin Oak casks and bottled at 43% abv.

Nose

Lemon, pine freshness, vanilla, nutmeg, sweet, baking spices, bit dry ginger bread

Palate

Black pepper, sweet, warm, vanilla, red apples, banana, raisin, baking spices, cinnamon, winter feel, speculaas, dried apples, dried apricots, grapes

Finish

Medium length finish with a bit dry wood with some cinnamon mouth feel dryness.

ScoreThis one scored an 7 - 7,5 out of 10 for me. The palate and nose is sweet and fruity. But the dryness on the finish is a bit heavy

The Talisman - Tasting Notes

Tomatin produces and sells a variety of blends throughout the world, some of which include Grand Alistair, Legendary Scot and Ancient Clan. Big T was their first ever blended Scotch Whisky. The Talisman was later introduced, and is now the most popular standard blended whisky in their line.

Nose
Vanilla, lemon, muffins, fudge, fruity, light green tea notes, fruit cake, scones, creamy, milk chocolate, fresh, sweet

Palate
Sweet, vanilla, chocolate, very ripe orchard fruit, plums, heather, creamy, roses, red apples, banana, and some whole grain dry cookies

Finish
Not too very long, bit dry mouth feel of some light smoke that comes in on the end...

Score
It is a nice and fresh dram, fruity and sweet. Give it a 7 out of 10.

Carn Mor Tomatin 18 YO - 1994/2013 - Festival Notes

Tomatin 15YO - Tasting Notes

Tomatin 12YO - Tasting Notes

Nose  
Banana, citrus, fresh, vanilla, dried apple, warm winter spices,
toast, barley, black pepper, raisin, nutmeg, dark sugar, red apple, very sweet toffee feel...

Palate
Cinnamon, toffee, dark chocolate bitterly taste, fruity, vanilla, raisin, figs and a bit dry spice like a big spoon full of nutmeg or cinnamon... Red apple, cookie dough, orange, lemon, and hint of wood?

Finish  
Bit short, sweet and a hint of raisins, chocolate and citrus.

Score  
Tasted this one before when I just started writing tasting notes. Got just a few notes back then out of it and scored it a 6. Now coming back to it and getting FAR more out of it, and enjoying it also much more then the first time. It is sweet, fruity and very strong on raisins, but a bit dry on the palate to be honest and the finish a bit short, but still raising the score to 7 out of 10 now, it was very nice for sure...

Tomatin 18 YO - Tasting Notes

Nose 
Spices on the nose, floral tones, raisins, malty, nutmeg, vanilla, black pepper, fruity, sweet, clove, cinnamon, maple syrup, red apple, toffee, dates, bit nutty

Palate
Pepper, cinnamon, honey, nutmeg, anise, vanilla, toffee, chocolate, fruits, nuts, red apple, banana, pear juice, pancakes, peanuts, sweet...

Raisin, dried stone fruits, dried apricots, maple syrup, cookie dough, rich fruit cake

Finish  
Medium to almost long finish, light nutty taste lingers combined with caramel and the chocolate... very sweet

Score  
8  out of 10, something to enjoy in front of a fire on a cold wintery day.

Tomatin Distillery

www.tomatin.com

Tomatin
Inverness-shire
Scotland
IV13 7YT