When I got a dram of the new Tomatin Cask Strength I thought to myself that we’re getting another cask strength sherry bomb, the likes of the Aberlour A’Bunadh, Glenfarclas 105 and the GlenDronach or Glengoyne Cask Strength. Honestly, this is one of my favorite classes of whisky, and I always have 1-2 of the sherry cask strength bottles open, so an addition to this class is quite welcome.
Photo Credit: drankgigant.nl
Only I was wrong!
For Tomatin, known for their sherry casks, going this route would have been classic and expected. And they went another route entirely. This expression is not heavily sherried at all, and comes from an unspecified combination of bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks. The result is very fruity and heavy on the Tomatin signature tropical fruit (which is less to my personal palate, but is – nonetheless – well made).
Photo Credit: whiskyintelligence.com
Tomatin Cask Strength (57.5% ABV, NCF, NC)
Appearance: Gold, runs down glass quickly but leaves a ring of residual droplets.
Nose: Relatively young (but not new make-y). Fruits with fresh green fruit, notes of tropical fruits, vanilla, custard, light wood spice and a warm baking pastry. Water sweetens the nose somewhat.
Palate: Spicy with tropical fruit, pepper, cayenne, vanilla, malt with a slightly drying effect in mouth. The spice is somewhat overpowering on the palate.
Linger: Relatively short in the back of the throat for a cask strength expression, but longer on the tongue with sweet and spicy notes and tropical fruit influences. The finish has a lightly bitter note.
Conclusion
This cask strength expression can become your new favorite if you like tropical fruit notes in your whisky. Basically, if you like Bowmore, you’ll love this.
Personally, I don’t see this expression becoming a staple in my cupboard, but not for lack of quality, rather a difference in palate.