Do you like to try things
you’ve never tried before? Not
necessarily something exclusive, or
something quirky. Just something new…to
you. If so, odds are that you’ll like
trying Tomintoul. The distillery itself
is fairly modern, having been built in
the mid-1960’s, and although it has been
largely ignored as a single malt in its
own right, the original Tomintoul range is worth
checking-out. It’s clean, honest, and a
dram you can enjoy and share with
friends. The distillery’s tag line is
“the gentle dram”, and it is just that.
The whole range is soft, silky, and
inviting. So the next time you’re
perusing the Scotch aisle, and are in
the mood for a smooth Speysider, try
something new. You might be pleasantly
surprised. Here, then, is Tomintoul’s
core range:
10
year old: A very grassy nose;
young and musty, but with a definite
maltiness that sets it off. There is
also caramel, and a butterscotch
sweetness, as well as hints of old
leather. The 10 year old can be a
bit bitey on the palate, but also
has a surprisingly medium/thick
body, as well as a verrrry long,
lingering finish. Big and strong,
the finish contains a whole “forest
full” of oak, with varying degrees
of smoke, black tea, and more
caramel. This is a big, everyday
type of whisky that can be enjoyed
year-round.
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16 year old:
The 16 year old has a nose that we
could only describe as “spirity”.
Full of old grasses and aldehyde,
there are also hints of heather,
sherry, and Tomintoul’s trademark
caramel. (Water really opens up the
nose, exposing beautiful dried
fruits and cinnamon.) A medium/light
body segues into a finish that is
both smoother and shorter than the
10 year old expression, with honey,
toasted almonds, quinine, bitters,
soft leather, and just the faintest,
tiniest bit of peat (if at all).
Though good, I wonder what a few
more years in the cask would do to
this dram.
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27 year old: Wow, what a
nose! It is almost perfumed.
Honestly. And though I’m not usually
one for that sort of thing
(preferring more of a “meaty” nose),
this aroma is, pardon the obvious
pun, intoxicating. Crisp and clean,
the nose is also full of overripe
pears and apples, as well as honey,
light oak, and of course caramel.
The very light body morphs into a
short, sweet finish full of peaches,
grapefruits, honey, vanilla, and
light coffee. Very mellow. Though
with different flavors, this dram
reminded us of delicate bourbon,
somehow. Truly the gentlest of the
“gentle drams”.
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Questions or comments are welcome, I can be reached at
brett@whiskyguild.com
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