Tomatin 12 Cask Strength

Thanks to /u/PeatReeks for this sample. Apologies to my fellow review machine, /u/cjotto9 for using the image before asking first. It was the only one I could find.

I don’t enjoy Highlands compared to other regions of Scotlands for whisky. Love visiting; don’t get me wrong. At least, I think. Let me check a map.

Just a moment…

Nope, I meant I loved visiting the Lowlands. Haven’t made it to the Highlands yet. I bet someone has made it there before me or something.

Anyway, it’s not that I don’t like Highlands just to stay consistent; I mostly don’t enjoy the whiskies from there. Except for Tomatin.

As some of you may know, I did a big ole mega review on Tomatin, and enjoyed it quite a bit. Enough, I dare say, that it turned out to be my favourite distillery from the Highlands (that is still open).

So when I was given the chance to try Tomatin 12 Cask Strength, Specifically bottled for Haskell’s, I jumped at the chance. Or more so rolled. I’m not that fit.

It’s bourbon cask matured, single cask, and bottled for Haskell’s, a local chain in Minneapolis. I can’t really find much else. I’d dare say that this seems like a fun dram to try.

Let’s see how it tastes, shall we?

Price: N/A in Ontario

Region: Highland

Abv: 53%

Vintage: 08.03.2002

Bottled: 12.08.2014

Cask Type: Ex-Bourbon

Cask #: 1831

Colour: 2.5Y 7/6

Nose: Mango, alcohol, peach, lemon, cashew, ginger, caramel

Strong. Very, very strong. At first it’s just mango and alcohol, which I’m not opposed to.

Doesn’t have a lot of depth (note it’s basically slight changes of fruit, nutty, ginger, and caramel).

Taste: Nutmeg, mango, lemon, anise, cornbread, tobacco, vanilla

I noted in another, older, also Bourbon cask Tomatin that there was a tobacco taste. And that I’m not the biggest fan. Same here, though not as pronounced. Thus my score will be lower than if you like Tobacco.

Again, consistent, simple, strong flavours.

Finish: Lemon tart, butter, peanut, club soda, cereal, cinnamon, pepper, almond

Nutty. Very nutty. And quite dry.

Hmm… I like the strength of the dram, however it’s missing something.

Conclusion: This is the start of a very interesting dram. There’s elements that show promise, however Tomatin 12 Cask Strength, while a good dram at a fair price (from what I’ve read), needs some more time to open up.

Granted I’m saying that as someone who wanted just a little bit more. This is streets ahead of the 12 year standard expression. I’d say grab it if you’re in Minneapolis, dontcha know.

80/100

Scotch review #350, Highland review #57, Whisky Network review #534