
October 1, 2019

Little duos, today new young Tomintoul

Remember Tomintoul’s supposed to be ‘a gentle dram’. Let’s check that once more… (it never works too ell when you try to double-check any marketing speak…)

Tomintoul-Glenlivet 12 yo 2006/2019 (54.3%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection, bourbon barrel, 240 bottles)

Tomintoul-Glenlivet 12 yo 2006/2019 (54.3%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection, bourbon barrel, 240 bottles)
Not much evaporation here, according to the outturn. Have the angels been a little fussy? Colour: white wine. Nose: starts very slightly bandage-y, but gets then extremely natural, with grasses, cakes, apple peels, and clay. A wee metallic touch in the background (copper kettle) and a wee hint of fennel. So far, so normal. With water: concrete and engine oil on top of all those natural smells, plus notes of good raw white rum. Sugarcane, really. Mouth (neat): yep, it’s good, natural, with oranges and apples, and a wee bitterish waxiness. But let’s not call it Clynelish yet. With water: a little rum once again, otherwise a solid malty development. Cake, grass, bread, apples, oranges… Finish: medium, rather fresh. Fresh marzipan, a touch of yoghurt, something flinty in the aftertaste. Comments: good, solid, no-quibble natural malt whisky. Really, it’s good, and actually pretty delicate. Excuse me? Yes, gentle…
SGP:451 - 82 points.

Tomintoul 14 yo 2005/2019 (57.2%, Liquid Treasures, 10th Anniversary, sherry hogshead, 215 bottles)

Tomintoul 14 yo 2005/2019 (57.2%, Liquid Treasures, 10th Anniversary, sherry hogshead, 215 bottles)
Things are really getting kind of saucy with these labels, but good fun for sure, as long as the bottlers haven’t decided to flood the US market. But yeah, good fun! Colour: pale gold. Nose: very very close, just a tad fatter, which may just come from the extra two years. A few buttery touches, a little burnt cake… Now it does get even fatter, with some crème au beurre and whiffs of hot chamomile tea. With water: wait, mangos? Where do those come from? Mouth (neat): both young (kirsch) and mature (stout). Very different from the 2006 at this point, we do find something metallic and sour, not in a bad way mind you. Apple pie wetted with some cider. With water: stout! Finish: pretty long and rather peppery. Comments: these babies are not the easiest to assess and you often need to scratch your head a bit. Not exactly what I would call a ‘characterful distillate’ indeed, bit the good bottlers seem to manage to find some good, interesting casks.
SGP:451 - 82 points.

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

September 2019

Serge's favourite recent bottling this month:
Craigellachie 25 yo 1994/2019 (56.1%, The Single Malts of Scotland, cask #1063, 195 bottles) - WF 92

Serge's favourite older bottling this month:
Bruichladdich 24 yo 1965/1990 (54.2%, Turatello) - WF 93

Serge's favourite bang for your buck this month:
Creations Blend 22 yo 1996/2019 (45%, Cadenhead, blended malt, bourbon hogshead) - WF 91

Serge's favourite malternative this month:
La Favorite 2016 ‘Rivière Bel’Air’ (53%, OB, Martinique, agricole) - WF 90

Serge's Lemon Prize this month:
Jura ‘The Sound’ (42.5%, OB, +/-2018)
- WF 70