Tomatin
When it comes to Malt whisky there are a number of brands that are instantly recognisable - the likes of Glenfiddich, Macallan and Ardbeg to name but a few, however, quietly in the background there are a number of distilleries that are gaining a foothold growing in status, like Tomatin.
Situated southeast of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, Tomatin, is one of the biggest of the small brands if that makes sense. Although the whiskies produced are generally Highland in style, the sheer diversity (and their amazing quality) is something that we feel is quite unique. Even the core range is amazingly good and represents great value for money, which in this day and age of financial constraint, is always welcome.
Explore the range below and join the revolution - you will be glad you did!
Tomatin The Antiquary 40%
Tasted: Aug 2015 Quite sweet and gristy on the nose with plenty of granity highland character and hints of crisp grain. Slightly floral with a touch of honey and developing herbal grain notes.
The palate is crisp and barley'd. Again subtly sweet with squashed fruit and vanilla. Some herbal; grain is noticeable but it's very well balanced by the weight of oily, bananary esters. Long, crisp finish with a lovely herbal/ sweet grain finish and lightly chocolaty after-taste.
Tomatin Legacy 43%
Aged in Bourbon and Virgin Oak Casks Re-Tasted: Nov 2016 Fresh and citric aromas with a light grassiness and barley notes, followed by sweet vanilla oak and some subtle grainy and toasty oak notes. Pleasantly fruity and balanced with emerging apricot and banana.
The palate is slightly gristy and vanilla’d, opening with the grippy, spicy oak and followed by luscious apricot and barley, which balances the oak well. Long and mineral with a mouth-watering spicy twang.
Tomatin The Antiquary 12 year old 40%
Re- Tasted: Sept 2018 The nose is richly fruity with apricot, mango, kiwi and apple with hints of raisin, treacle, malt, cinnamon and granity highland notes. Pleasantly balanced with the grain adding a gentle nip. The sherry notes become quite pronounced with time but never overwhelm.
The palate is a little lighter as it displays more grain character and less sherry. Hints of chocolate, malt, treacle and spiced fruit follow. Some sweeter grain notes come through on the middle along with some vanilla. God length with a slightly mentholated, herbal and oily grain finish.
Tomatin 12 year old 43%
11 1/2 years in first and second fill bourbon, followed by 6 months in first and second fill Oloroso.
Tasted: Nov 2016 The nose begins with the fresh citrus and lightly grainy barley. Herbal and slightly coffee’d sherry follows and comes through quite strongly. With time subtle menthol and milk chocolate aromas appear.
The palate opens with a touch more chocolaty and treacly sherry with gentle dried fruit notes. It moves into herbal Oloroso territory before the vanilla and slightly grainy oak and mineral notes come through on the finish. Long, with lingering subtly balked fruit, floral apricot and barley. That extra 3% alcohol gives it a really intense finish.
Tomatin 18 year old 40%
16 years in first and second fill bourbon, followed by 2 years in second and third fill Oloroso. Re-Tasted: Nov 2016 Succulent aromas of raisins, sultana, prune and dusty sherrywood. It opens to show a subtle Armagnac-esque rancio and a touch of coffee. The slightly sawdusty vanilla oak comes through and lightens the nose and eventually becomes the dominant character.
The palate is very much like the nose, with the sherry up first with hints of coffee, dusty tannins, prune, raisin and dried plum. Lovely, intense, citric and mineral middle clears the way for the soft vanilla oak to come through on the finish. Long with lingering barley, grass, mineral's and coffee.