Tomintoul 10 yo 2010/2021 (56.7%, Watt Whisky, refill butt, 246 bottles)
Colour: pale gold. Nose: ok, so first off, this is not actually meek at all. It's rather more rounded and elegantly sweet, with this nice impression of golden syrup spread on brown toast, some custard, youthful dessert wines and wee touches of pollens and sweet breakfast cereals. It is 'light' but not without character at all. Rather pleasant. With water: some fabrics, a little plasticine and sunflower oil. Still rather gentle and playful. Mouth: again this same impression of lightness of touch with a very easy and pleasing character that would include more seedy brown breads, more golden syrup and honey, more breakfast cereals such as Weetabix and some slightly more mechanical touches like mineral oil and shoe polish. With water: funnily enough water seems to enhance the texture and flesh out the whole profile with some hessian, olive oil and touches of aniseed. Classic refill sherry profile in some regards. Finish: medium in length, some marzipan, lemon cough drops, more breads - I think it's actually at its most robust in the finish. Comments: A fine wee Tomintoul, no complaints here.
SGP: 551 - 85 points.

Tomintoul 2004/2020 (60.4%, OB for Royal Mile Whiskies, cask #2229, bourbon, 389 bottles)
This cask was apparently selected for RMW by Mr Robert Fleming to celebrate his 30 years working at the distillery. Colour: gold. Nose: active and highly scented American oak at play here. But not in a vulgar way, rather this is all on pineapple syrup, shredded coconut, white pepper, freshly muddled mint and even wee medical hints such as Tiger Balm. I find it very good so far, even though this is clearly quite a modern 'technological' style. With water: doubles down on this highly scented and aromatic profile from the wood, exotic hardwood resins, tropical fruit teas and incense. Mouth: the arrival is rather mentholated and suggestive of eucalyptus resins, tea tree oil, rolling tobacco and dried herbs. Also some spiced custard, pine cones and hibiscus. Rather a lot going on and globally it's clean, punchy, very bright whisky. In time though I think the oak does start to become just a notch too loud. With water: creamier, fruitier and more balanced now. More of these exotic tea touches, fir wood, eucalyptus - rather complex in fact. Finish: good length, creamy vanilla, wood spices, dried coconut once again, muesli with dried exotic fruit chunks through it and some green apple. Comments: an excellent selection and I can see why they would choose such a cask. It's a whisky that is very much about the cask, but it was also clearly a top quality bourbon cask. This is the kind of style that I think suits Tomintoul well as the lightness of the distillate bends very well to this sort of clean yet active wood profile. Now, there are parts that become a little too intense for me, but it's still going to be…
SGP: 651 - 87 points.