
May 25, 2017

Four Tomintoul

I haven’t got much to say about Tomintoul. I could tell you a story about camping over there in the heathers and being attacked by midges around 1980, but would that be interesting?

Tomintoul ‘Tlàth’ (40%, OB, +/-2017)

Tomintoul ‘Tlàth’ (40%, OB, +/-2017) Indeed, that’s the name. In Gaelic that means ‘gentle’. Go figure… No age, little hope. Colour: pale gold. Nose: really gentle. Kellogg’s best (or worst depending on your POV), vanilla cream, brioche, sweet barley, overripe apples. Rather close to that NAS Glenlivet, Something Reserve. Mouth: malt, sweet beer, more overripe apples, a little caramel, some toasted oak, and some custard. Light body. Finish: short, malty. Comments: not too bad and pretty honest. But what was the distillery again? Shall we call it ‘rather unremarkable’? A bit blendy, perhaps? SGP:331 - 72 points.

Okay, we all know Tomintoul can be great, but that one was clearly too young. So, perhaps a much, much older one…

Tomintoul 48 yo 1967/2015 (40.1%, Murray McDavid, bourbon barrel, casks #150031-150032)

Given the strength, I guess one of the two casks has been rescued – coz it had gone under-strength. Colour: pale gold. Not any darker than the official NAS. Nose: typical. Soft overripe fruits, apples, pears, plums… Plus various herbal teas, chamomile, lime, orange leaves, a drop of mint essence, a touch of light acacia honey… It’s all whispering low and elegantly. Some apple peelings and asparagus as well… Mouth: rescued indeed, it hasn’t gotten weak, just subtle, very elegant, whispering… Old apples, earl grey tea, soft oak, a touch of sandalwood, ripe bananas, a wee slice of cinnamon cake… It’s not unlike some high-class green tea, perhaps silver needle white tea or something? Finish: a little short, perhaps, but it’s all wonderfully delicate, becoming almondy. Grandma’s old orange wine in the aftertaste. Comments: whether one of them had gone under-strength or not, it was a great idea to vat those two casks. SGP:551 - 90 points.

While we’re at it, let’s check what we’ve got in the library…

Tomintoul 1976/1998 (55.2%, Scotch Single Malt Circle, cask #7334)

Always some great whiskies at the SSMC. Colour: full gold. Nose: some full-blown banana and apple combo, bright and trumpeting. Golden syrup, many flowers (dandelions), honeycomb, ripe mirabelles and apricots… No one can be against this style. With water: same style, barley syrup, plum jam, breakfast honey… Mouth (neat): Finish: oily and bright, on mirabelle liqueur – like we make in Alsace. Then rather maple syrup and once again, a wee banana-y side. Nothing too tropical though. With water: good fruity development. Yellow fruits and pale honey. Like. Always bananas in the background. Comments: just very good. SGP:651 - 86 points.

Tomintoul 42 yo 1969/2011 (53.1%, The Whisky Agency, Perfect Dram, bourbon, 182 bottles)

This baby just slipped out of my tulip glass, time to try it. Colour: pale gold. Nose: simple and perfect. Sunflower oil, plum nectar, vegetal earth, and basta cosi. With water (neat): superb mentholy/camphory development, with something Chinese (for lack of a better term). Perhaps green fresh pu-erh? Mouth: a superb banana-y arrival, reminding me of some very old unsherried Bunnahabhain, then oranges and citrons. Some sides remind me of the best dry Jurançon wines, if that rings a bell to you. With water: hay and fruit peelings. Finish: medium, complex, fruity an d tea-ish. Comments: shall we call this lost style ‘tea/wine whisky’? The antithesis of modern vanilla-driven whisky. SGP:551 - 90 points.

Check the index of all Tomintoul I've tasted so far