Tomatin 1994 The Fishes of Samoa 31 yo

 

 

 

49,9°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Refill Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Archives 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This one spent 31 years, 1 month and 12 days in a simple Refill Hogshead, before filling 247 bottles. It is part of the prestigious collection The Fishes of Samoa, each bottling of which represents a different fish that inhabits the waters of this archipelago. Here, it is the Farancia Abacura. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose seemed perfect, slightly iodized, airy, clear. Pine resin, lemon zest, Williams pears. White peach, beeswax, vanilla bean. Discreet mineral and forest touches. Straw strand, half-salt butter. On the palate, it is fresh, fruity, honey and vanilla cream, mandarins, melon, mirabelles, juicy pears. Polished parquet in the background, some spices. Very long, satisfying finish, candied citrus fruits, ginger, a pinch of cinnamon, candle wax, brioche, pastry cream. Wood Shavings. 

 

In Short, 

It is an excellent Tomatin, smooth and airy on the nose, very fruity on the palate. Wood has a certain influence and brings wax, spices, resin. More curiously, I also found some mineral and iodized touches. It’s very pleasant to drink, and it’s original. What more could you ask for? The price? It’s high of course, but not outrageous. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             The Galway Shawl - The Haar

Decadent Drams' The Teuchter 18 yo Batch 3

 

 

 

47,2°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Sherry Wood Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

A few months ago, Angus MacRaild and his friends launched this small series, The Teuchter, to showcase products representative of the Highlands. This is because ‘teuchter’ is a common nickname for the inhabitants of the northern part of Scotland. The first batch was released at the end of last year; it was a Tomatin. Then came Batch 2, a Clynelish, which proved a great success. And now here is Batch 3, another Tomatin, it is a blend of two or three casks, Angus told me, all of which previously contained sherry, and they have kept the precious Highland spirit for 18 years. Only 436 bottles have been produced, so you’ll have to be quick to get your hands on one. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A well-structured sherry, perfectly smooth and oaky. Slightly smoky exotic wood, polished parquet flooring, fruit jellies, damson plums and blackberries, creamy liquorice, fresh fig pulp. Dark chocolate, Agen prunes. On the palate, the fruit is more intense and juicy, blood oranges, perhaps mandarins, plums of every colour, accompanied by a rich, pulpy, jammy, honeyed texture and pronounced spices, pepper, cumin, cloves. A fairly long finish, very well balanced, the fruit is drier, dates and apricots, hazelnuts, black tea, cachous. Earthy and fruity nuances.

 

In Short, 

It’s a very fine sherry, not too overpowering, nicely fruity, but without any of that rancio flavour, that note of macerated dried fruit, which some people find off-putting. I tasted it with a friend who doesn’t like sherry-cask-aged whiskies at all, and he really enjoyed this one. What’s more, the price seems quite reasonable to me. To be honest, I fully intend to pick up a bottle myself. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                              To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                              Concrete Blonde - Joey

Tomatin 1993 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength 30 yo

 

 

 

58,4°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands 

1st Fill Sherry Puncheon

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Who could refuse a 30-year-old Tomatin, aged entirely in a 1st Fill Sherry Puncheon Cask? This really is the top of the Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength range, and is included in the Upper series. 502 bottles have been released.

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Thick red fruit coulis, forest aromas, undergrowth, ferns, bark, chestnuts in its bogue, moss. Pink pralines, melting toffee, cooked wine, elastics, soggy leather, candied figs, acacia honey. A subtle woodiness brings a fine balance, vanilla custard, citrus zest, grapefruit. On the palate, it's syrupy, intense, roasted hazelnuts, blueberry and blackberry tarts, redcurrant jelly, shortbread biscuits, sautéed potatoes. Discreet spices mingle with pastry notes, flaked almonds, nougatine, cinnamon. The finish is extremely long and powerful, touching on the sublime, tarte Tatin, glazed chestnuts, Agen prunes, burnt bark, dark chocolate, a pinch of ground coffee, damson fondant, mint leaf.

 

In Short, 

At first I thought it was just another superb Sherry, but then came the final. This one is magnificent, never-ending, very impressive. This is a product of rare beauty, to be reserved for Sherry lovers of course. The price is obviously gigantic, but I'm sure your banker will give you credit for it.

Score : 91  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           WasXGone - Tappavasilmä

Tomatin 1990 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength 34 yo

 

 

 

42,6°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands 

Refill American Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Among the countless treasures preserved by Gordon & MacPhail in their vast warehouses, this Tomatin is 34 years old, having been bottled on 23 April 2025. It belongs to the Upper series within the Connoisseurs Choice range, as it is a rarity. The ageing is quite classic, and will allow the distillate to thrive. Only 106 bottles have been released from the cask.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Beeswax, delicate woodiness, pulpy yellow fruit. Acacia honey, milk chocolate, white peach, mashed banana. Green apples, Conference pears, and a few floral hints behind. Shortbread biscuits, zest of lemon and vanilla, egg yolk diluted in fresh cream. On the palate, yellow plums, mirabelles, generous cereals, rye bread, varnished wood. Salted butter caramel, subtle notes of exotic fruit, slowly invading spices, black pepper, nutmeg. Very long finish, quite powerful despite the low alcohol content, candied fruit, liquid honey, rosemary, dill, crushed chestnuts, sweet almonds.

 

In Short, 

At this age, it is obviously a monster of balance and subtlety. The honey is thick, the fruit intense and the oak bewitching. Having said that, you can find something just as good for much less, because the price is astronomical. To be reserved for the very wealthy amateurs.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Gisli Gunnarsson - Andlitin I Berginu

Tomatin 2008 S Spirits Shop' Selection 15 yo

 

 

 

63,8°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This bottle is very mysterious because, apart from the photo I took myself, I have no indication of its existence. Unfortunately, the photo is of poor quality, and the cask number is illegible. But it's a Sherry Butt, which yielded 620 bottles. What happened to them? I don't know, and it's a shame, because a 15-year-old Sherry Butt Tomatin is always interesting.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is marked by Sherry, with a slight lack of balance. More fresh than dried fruits, yellow plum, custard, thick honey, raw egg yolk, not too ripe banana. Some exotic fruits, but very discreet, pineapple and papaya. A fresh iodine note adds a little fullness. On the palate, the fruit becomes woody and a little drier, with dates, quinces and fermented plums. Not very remarkable spices. The finish is quite powerful and long, but not as violent as I'd expected, it's quite well integrated. Shortbread biscuits, leather, light tobacco. Tinder leaf.

 

In Short, 

It's not quite successful, but it's still very good. The profile of the distillery is not very recognisable, well, I'm not an expert on this distillery either. The palate is good, and the finish is excellent. This is a quite remarkable bottling, and I'd like to know where all these bottles went. 

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Erika Lewis & The Lonesome Dolls - Running Wild

Tomatin Legacy

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels and Virgin Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2013

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Launched in 2013, this is the distillery's bottom of the range. From what I've read, 80% of it is juice that has spent 7-8 years in 1st Fill Bourbon Barrels, and the rest has spent 4 years in virgin casks. It's 43°, but cold-filtered and coloured.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Dried lemon and young wood, freshly cut. Pastry cream and orange blossom, sweet potatoes. Vanilla and coconut. The bitterness of the virgin casks is well hidden. The palate is unfortunately clear, but still correct, pineapple and grapefruit, mashed banana, lychee, lime. Wood chips and white pepper. A few herbaceous touches. Apple juice and peaches. Very woody finish, but also fruity, orchard fruit, icing sugar. Liquid honey. Caramel and cola.

 

In Short, 

It's not as bad as all that, the palate is very clear and the finish is light, but the nose is successful. The price is very low, so this is an opportunity to discover this distillery through the back door.

Score : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ella Fall - Like Mothers Do

Cù Bòcan 2011 Creation #5

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Refill American Oak Hogsheads and Colombian Andean Oak Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 15 ppm

 

 

 

The Cù Bòcan Creation #5 was distilled in winter, in keeping with tradition. More specifically, in December 2011. It initially matured in refill American oak hogsheads before being filled into Andean Oak casks in June 2021. A little over a year later the whisky was removed from cask. Scott Adamson, Blender and Global Brands Ambassador, comments: “Typically, we would consider one year to be quite a short finish, however the influence of the Andean Oak casks in that period was remarkable.” 8400 bottles were released in May. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It is fresh, herbaceous, almost floral. Ferns, but also palm leaves, bamboo, yucca. Resin, white chocolate, dried prunes. A mint leaf. Eucalyptus. Beautiful fullness. The peat is very light, barely noticeable in the background. Pleasant on the palate, light without being watery, woody, spicy, clove, black pepper and nutmeg. Humus, damp earth. A few hints of flambéed banana. Brown sugar. Long, spicy, leafy finish, cola, agave, ginger juice. Heather. 

 

In Short, 

It's very original, very herbaceous and woody. As usual, the peat is barely present. It's completely new and almost familiar at the same time, because it's so obvious that you feel it should have been done earlier. What's more, it's well-balanced and flawless. I'd recommend buying it, the price is just correct.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Askjell - Dear Past, I've Seen the Apocalypse and I Want to Go Home

 

 

Cù Bòcan Creation #4

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Tawny Port and Cognac Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 15 ppm

 

 

 

This is the fourth release of the Creation Series from Cù Bòcan. Each time the aging is insanely bold, and today it is a mix of Cognac and Port Casks. Only 4200 bottles were put on sale in January 2022.  

Let's Taste It : 

Sweet and syrupy, foresty, orchard fruits, yellow apples and Conference pears, red fruits, damsons and blueberries. Honeysuckle, undergrowth, heather. Balanced palate, still sweet, woody, mirabelle plums, pineapple, but also a few gooseberries and chocolate. Discreet spices, paprika and nutmeg. The finish is long without being explosive, not disturbing, fruity, a hint of iodine and salt, juicy pears. Blond tobacco. Peanuts and cashew nuts. Humus and chicory.

In Short, 

It's quite good, sometimes it's the port that takes over, other times it's the cognac. You move from one to the other without it being annoying. The peat is barely perceptible. It's still very smooth and gentle, more Tomatin than Cù Bòcan for me. You can find it at a decent price if you look hard enough.

Score : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Powderfinger - These Days

Cù Bòcan Creation #3

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Ex-Rye Whiskey from Indiana and Moroccan Cabernet-Sauvignon Wine Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 15 ppm

 

 

 

Cù Bòcan's Creation range is all about experimentation, some of it quite daring. Here, it's a blend of Indiana rye whisky barrels and Moroccan wine casks made from Cabernet-Sauvignon vines. Where did they come up with this idea? But it's the result that counts. 4200 bottles went on sale.

Let's Taste It : 

Complex nose of peppery grapes and light red fruits, with sweet cereals in the background. Raspberries, cranberries, blackberries. The peat brings a mineral balance. Changing and bewitching. On the palate, a bit clear and smooth, with more white fruits and spices. Liquorous and relatively solid. The finish is very round, well-crafted, pleasant and fairly long. The red fruits are back, with a hint of forest undergrowth that I find pleasing. Heather, humus, vegetal moss. Charcoal.

In Short, 

Personally, I think it's a success. It's clearly original, surprising, a little exotic and fruity. Too much spice perhaps. Unfortunately, it's the price that doesn't suit me. I understand that experimentation is expensive, but this is a non-aged whisky.

Score : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                          Heretoir - Golden Dust

Cù Bòcan 15 yo 2022 Edition

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands 

Oloroso Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 15 ppm

 

 

 

They're starting to specialise in the finer things, on the peaty Tomatin stuff. They started in 2013, and now, almost ten years later, they're daring some prestigious releases. Like this 15-year-old edition, aged entirely in Oloroso Sherry casks, and released this year in 3,000 copies. It's the very first of this age, but the title 2022 Edition suggests that there will be others. We hope so. The Tomatin distillery only produces peated whisky for one week a year, which isn't much, but it can still afford some interesting limited editions.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is full-bodied, marked by red fruits, gooseberries and raspberries, without being overpowering. It's also velvety, noble wood, tinder, cherry, leather, caramel, dried fruits, resin, cinnamon, molasses. A touch of herbaceousness, I thought. Mineral peat. On the palate, the Sherry makes its mark, with blueberries, blackberries and a hint of blackcurrant, it's deep, a little earthy, still woody. Nuts and hazelnuts. Discreet but present spices. The finish is well-crafted and fairly long, with earth, charcoal, cola and chocolate.

 

In Short, 

For me, it's a great success. It's very Sherry, I only smelled peat on the nose and on the finish. But it's quite balanced, very round, it feels like drinking velvet with red fruits and a touch of minerality. Pleasant. I'd advise you to ask about the price, as it can be found very expensive in some places, and more decently priced in others.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Heilung - Krigsgaldr

Tomatin 2006 Portuguese Collection Port Casks 15 yo

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Traditional Scotch Whisky Casks and Tawny Port Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Portuguese Collection follows the French Collection released in 2021, including three different bottlings distilled on the same day, having undergone a similar first maturation, then transferred the same day in three different types of casks for a seven years finish, and finally, bottled on the same day, in May 2022. And here we have the one that bathed in Tawny Port Casks. The number of bottles produced is not known.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Rather pungent red fruits, with damson and gooseberry. But very sweet overall, with pomegranate syrup and strawberry. Syrupy, a bit earthy, noble and exotic wood. Tropical, sticky humidity. Reeds, mangroves, and at the same time it's sugared, almost greedy. Almond paste, toffee apple. Well-crafted on the palate, but not quite dense, cranberry jam, fairly strong spices, turmeric, cardamom, nutmeg, cumin, paprika. Long, robust finish, cola, earth, meaty depth. Blood orange, meat sauce.

 

In Short, 

I liked it, the port finish leaves a very fruity, slightly sweet, tropical and fleshy character. It's quite complex, perhaps a little intrusive, as there aren't many of the distillery's markers. The whole is really beautiful and original. Despite the variable and somewhat exaggerated price, it's worth considering a purchase.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Zombie Zombie - Livity

Tomatin 2006 Portuguese Collection Madeira Casks 15 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands 

Traditional Scotch Whisky Casks and Madeira Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchilfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Portuguese Collection is a set of three limited-edition expressions released very recently. Each was finished in Portuguese wine casks, after 8 years of initial maturation in traditional Scotch Whisky casks. All distilled on 8 September 2006, then transferred to a different type of casks on 23 April 2015, they were bottled on the same day, 9 May 2022. These three bottlings are therefore complementary. It is not known how many bottles are on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very full-bodied, rich and varied from the outset, but a little evanescent. Red plum, muscat grape, slightly earthy, pastoral. Some vegetables, courgette flower and stuffed aubergine. A little delicacy, a gooseberry stuffed in whipped cream, a sphere of sugar. Dense on the palate, but a little drying, tannins, wood bark, slightly oily spices, nutmeg, sandalwood, black pepper. Strong finish, heather earth, fern, humus, almost forest-like. A touch of charcoal perhaps. Cola.

 

In Short, 

The Madeira is both lighter and fatter on the palate, with a surprisingly earthy consistency. I like it, but I find it the least successful of the three. It's similar to Port, but less interesting. The price remains the same, very variable, and often too expensive. A purchase is possible, however, for informed connoisseurs.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Klasmos - Looped

Tomatin 2006 Portuguese Collection Moscatel Casks 15 yo

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands 

Traditional Scotch Whisky Casks and Moscatel de Setùbal Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

On 8 September 2006, what would become Tomatin's Portuguese Collection was distilled. It was transferred to Scotch whisky casks, ,and rested there for over 8 years. On 23 April 2015, everything was poured into three different types of cask, one in Moscatel, another in Port and the last in Madeira. Another 7 years of waiting, and it's finally ready. The three new limited editions are being bottled on the same day, 9 May 2022, to succeed the French Collection released last year. As always, they are not coloured or cold-filtered, but the number of bottles produced has not been disclosed.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Powerful and heady nose of cranberry jam, muscat grapes and pomegranate. Blackcurrant and gooseberry. Earthy background, humus, roots, but it's also delicious, strawberry, raspberry, with a lovely pastry cream, whipped cream, vanilla yoghurt. Successful on the palate, with blood orange, prickly pear, good breadth, spices galore, paprika, nutmeg, ginger, cumin. Wine lees, heather, undergrowth. Long and robust finish, the earth is back, more stony this time. White and grey pepper. Amarena cherries, candied red plums.

 

In Shot, 

A very fine finish in wine casks. The nose is highly aromatic, with a strong personality. The palate and finish are in perfect harmony, and the whole is spectacular and masterful. There's perhaps a little lack of distillery markers. But I'm quibbling, it really is a fine bottling. Beware of the price, which can vary enormously depending on the country and the site, from a little expensive to extremely expensive. Nevertheless, a purchase, at least of this bottle, would not be a folly.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Thylacine - Anatolia

Tomatin 1976 Duncan Taylor Rare Auld 34 yo c. 6822

 

 

 

51° 

Distillery : Tomatin -Highlands

Refill Dark Sherry Cask

Independent Bottling 

By Duncan Taylor Limited

Limited Edtion 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2011

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Rare Auld range is, to my knowledge, Duncan Taylor's most prestigious, a company that is itself already so reputable that it takes the liberty of bringing its own casks to the distilleries of its choice, in order to age the whisky on site. Here we have a 34-year-old Tomatin, aged in a dark Sherry cask and sold in only 301 bottles. This is the famous 6822 cask, and this bottling is well known to the experts, so we're going to have some fun.

Let's Taste It : 

Raspberry coulis, blueberry tart and light woodiness, on a layer of candied vanilla. Blood orange and flambéed clementine skin. A zest of lemon, a slice of pineapple drizzled with grapefruit juice, pomegranate seeds and a slice of strawberry. Gooseberries of all colours, mango, papaya, prickly pears. Crushed blackberries. Wood splinters, drying varnish. Shoe polish, sharpening cream. A sublime balance between the acidity and sweetness of fruits, the wood and the earth. With a pinch of water, it becomes moister, like a forest clearing in autumn, decomposing tree leaves, humus. Game blood sauce, also known as "grand veneur" sauce. Lingonberry jam. Cranberries. Chiselled palate, with red plum, muscat grape, but with intense spices, paprika, ginger, cloves and cinnamon, fennel and nutmeg. I feel like I'm penetrating the wood, licking the grooves, extracting from it an essential oil. Walnut powder. It's a bit syrupy. Red fruits in the background. Very long finish, charcoal and rich earth, black, green tea, vegetal touch, bay leaf. Mustard seeds. Aniseed, light cottony bitterness. Drops of fresh water. Liquid honey.

 

In Short, 

How can I put it briefly? It's quite simply a killer, as we say in the jargon. The nose is absolutely exceptional, one of the best I've ever smelt. The palate is a little lower, with a very slight bitterness that I didn't like, but it remains at a stratospheric level. The finish is very long, never-ending, and takes us through different states. This is a whisky of incredible complexity and balance, and that nose, my goodness that nose... In a few words. This is one of those bottles you can spend a lifetime looking for, and which is worth every sacrifice.

Note : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                            Jeff Buckley - So Real

Tomatin 2008 French Collection Monbazillac Casks 12 yo

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Bourbon Casks and Monbazillac Barriques Finish 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In the French Collection series released in 2021, this one was finished for three years in Monbazillac barriques, a French sweet wine grown on the left bank of the Dordogne. 6000 copies are on sale.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is rather floral, evanescent, with slightly acid apple and lemon pulp. It's light, however, well-balanced and sunny, with sunflowers, wheat and daisies. At the end, it smells of dry earth, sand and chestnuts. The palate also lacks strength, but is pleasant, suave and mellow. Spices, zucchini flower, cumin. The finish stands in contrast, quite strong and relatively long, with hints of genoise and meringue. A pinch of icing sugar. Beach sand. 

 

In Short, 

I found this edition a little inferior to the previous two. Less character, less power. On the plus side, there's more subtlety. Fans may find it useful to buy the whole series. But if that's not your case, you know which one to avoid.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Zac Brown Band - Free/Into the Mystic

Tomatin 2008 French Collection Sauternes Casks 12 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands 

Bourbon Casks and Sauternes Barriques Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In Spring 2021, Tomatin launched a series called The French Collection. It is a range of 4 bottlings finished in French wine or spirits casks. The second one I tasted was finished for three years in Sauternes barriques, a sweet wine produced in the Bordeaux vineyard. 6000 bottles are on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is a little dry, woody and mellow, with lemon and floral essences, evanescent yet full-bodied. The Sauternes brings its character, grapefruit and mirabelle plums, a hint of exotic fruits. A slightly syrupy saltiness. The palate is consistent, round, balanced, spicy, vanilla pastry cream, genoise, a layer of chantilly. A few scattered plums. The finish is long and fairly robust, ferns, heather, cumin and pepper. Dirt track in damp weather, in a small wood.

 

In Short, 

Not much difference from the previous one, perhaps more solid on the palate, with more concentrated aromas. I've always had a weakness for Sauternes, so this is probably my favourite of the series. Only, once again, the slightly disproportionate price spoils the appeal a bit.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Shakey Graves - Roll the Bones

Tomatin 2008 French Collection Rivesaltes Casks 12 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands 

Bourbon Casks and Rivesaltes Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

In Spring 2021, Tomatin launched a series called The French Collection. It is a range of 4 bottlings finished in French wine or spirits casks. This one was finished for three years in Rivesaltes, a natural sweet wine that comes from the Pyrénées Orientales. It is limited to 6000 copies.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is rather dynamic, spicy, with tangy lemon and fluffy grapefruit. Slight delicacy, with pastry cream and chantilly. There's a winey constancy in the background, a residue of damp cellar, of underground stone. This gives a certain solidity to the whole. The palate is light, with vanilla spices, paprika, sweet fruits, mango juice and soft plum. Maracudja and mirabelles. The finish is medium but pleasant, long and slightly cereal-like. Cola and nutmeg.

 

In Short, 

I have good memories of this little experience. As someone who likes finishes with wine casks, I find that the Rivesaltes gives this distillery a bit of character. It's a beautiful marriage. Of course, this is a vintage edition and the price goes up a bit quickly, but there's no doubt that die-hard fans will get their money's worth.

Score : 86

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :                            

  

                                          LP - Lost on You

Tomatin 2009 La Confrérie 11 yo

 

 

 

54,9°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Le Gus't

Limited Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Le Gus't is a French bottler that has been running rampant on the market since 2013, and whose reputation is immaculate. La Confrérie du Whisky is a French Facebook group of enthusiasts that's been around since 2020. They had the crazy idea of producing a bottling under their name, submitting it to the friends of Le Gus't, and, even crazier, the latter accepted, proposing, among other things, this Tomatin aged in a Bourbon cask, which was adopted unanimously. The unbelievable then became reality, and 217 bottles were produced, all of which were sold in the blink of an eye. An amusing and astonishing experience that I just had to discover.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is full-bodied, waxy, salty and very slightly minty. But also very lemony. Candied lemon. A medicinal touch. Vegetal hints, a little grassy, astringent, well-balanced. A whiff of smoke. Some light spices after a while. Towards the end, it becomes very sweet, mille-feuilles, pastry cream, gingerbread, genoise. On the palate, the lemon stands out, like a pie, then spices, pepper, cumin, nutmeg. Olive oil and liquid honey. Woody and appetising, with pudding and raisin cake. Quite warm. Long finish, this time with  coconut and clementine. Poilâne bread, very crispy. Mirabelle plums. Lemon peel.

 

In Short, 

Usually, this is exactly the profile I don't really like. No peat and very lemony. But I really liked this one. Firstly because there's a hint of smoke and wax (or what I identified as such), and secondly because it's subtle and very sweet on the palate. Lastly, the finish is very successful. All in all, this is a product that I'd recommend, if it wasn't already completely sold out, reserved as it was for sharing with friends. When can we expect a second?

Note : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Spain - Nobody Has to Know

Tomatin 2008 Gifted Stills 7 yo

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Tomatin - Speyside

Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Jean Boyer 

Limited Edtion

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2015

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Jean Boyer started out as an independent whisky distributor in France, before quickly becoming a bottler himself in 1987. The Gifted Stills range is made up of small batches of innovative Scotch whiskies, according to the brochure. It's been around for 15 years. Unfortunately, there is no indication of whether the whisky is chill-filtered or coloured, or how many bottles are produced.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite a pastry nose, with Bourbon, genoise and whipped cream, hints of vanilla, but also some juicy fruits, peach and pineapple, banana. A touch of buttercream and icing sugar. Herbaceous notes of sage and fern. Cereals, wheat, rice and barley. On the palate, the vanilla comes through, it's smooth, pleasant, a little syrupy and watery, some spices but very discreet, cumin, ginger. It's very easy to swallow. Quite a long finish, earth and charcoal, heather, cola. Chestnut in its bug.

 

In Short, 

It's not bad at all, and would go very well as an aperitif. It's a good Tomatin, not very original and a little austere, but pleasant to drink. Unfortunately it's completely sold out, but in any case it seems that the price was too high to tempt a purchase.

Score : 85 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Lady A - Need You Now

Cù Bòcan Creation #2

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Japanese Shochu and European Virgin Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Malt

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 15 ppm

 

 

 

During the last week of the year, Tomatin produces peated single malt, an annual output of 60,000 litres, most of which is devoted to the Signature and the Creations Series that make up the Cù Bòcan range. The two Creations are matured in highly original ways. This one is aged partly in Shochu casks, a Japanese brandy.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Nose similar to Signature, but more mineral, with vanilla, fruits, iodine and limestone. Green apples and white plums. There's a hint of grainy peat, but it's fairly discreet. Some cereals. The palate is spicy, vanilla once again, with white fruits and intense wood. Cumin, ginger, sesame seeds. Lovely finish with a floral touch and a certain salinity. Slivers of iodine return, with vanilla wood and a note of aniseed. A certain freshness at the end. Bread crumb.

In Short, 

It's all very interesting. The peat brings out the quality of the distillate. The twist is original, but it doesn't detract from the whole. I liked it, and such boldness deserves to be rewarded. However, the price is a bit exaggerated.

Score : 86

                                          Ti Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Whitesnake - Too Many Tears