Tobermory 10 Year

Nose: Grainy, verdant, and bright with hints of lemon and lime. It's a very grain-forward aroma with a sharp, medicinal herbal note. There's also a pleasing, slick, sea-like character and a whisper of smoke, so faint it's barely there. Palate: It begins with a sweet, zesty spice. The texture is a bit creamy yet also sharp and pure. The flavors develop gradually, building notes of sweet-and-sour citrus, salt, anise, sugar candy, spice, and earthy peat. It has a nice mouthfeel, slightly slick but dry. As it sits, it gets increasingly briny. Finish: Lasting a decent while with cool, sea-influenced grain notes that feel almost numbing, likely from wood tannins. This settles into a sophisticated sweetness that endures. This is a fascinating and refined single malt with considerable elegance. I'd intended to try it for ages and it lives up to expectations. It's understated, offering many subtle sensations. It's oceanic, but not in an overpowering, beach bonfire way, nor like thick, smoky mist off the sea. It's more like a solitary walk on an empty pebble beach on a cool, overcast afternoon – the sound of oyster shells breaking, the hiss of waves on the shore, and the call of shorebirds. A very evocative shiver of a spirit – beautiful, reserved, intricate, and mild, like a cool, elegant actress.

Nose: faint aroma - difficult to discern specifics, subtle nail polish remover, swimming pool, oak Palate: salt, grapefruit, sharp citrus, slightly bitter Finish: bitter grapefruit _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Last 16, Match 5: Tobermory 10yo versus Cutty Sark Prohibition Tobermory distillery has had a varied past, at times used for other purposes such as a canteen and a power station, some of the distillery buildings converted into apartments and others rented for cheese storage. I've heard that the whisky can also vary. But what about this sample? During this tasting, it was as reserved as a nun in a convent. Extremely light in color, and not very expressive on the nose. The palate gave the Cutty Sark a challenge, but overall Tobermory fell short, and instead, it is the impressive blend that wins. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The unbearable suffering of a whisky enthusiast. I have too large a collection of samples and miniatures to get through, and deciding what to drink next is difficult. Similar to choosing the right footwear in the morning, I waver. So, I have selected sixteen scotch whiskies that are 12 years old or younger, or NAS (No Age Statement) to compete in a Scotch Deathmatch. It serves as my motivation to reduce the backlog. Follow along if you are interested (and really, why would you be?). Oh, the drama!

Appearance: This Scottish island spirit has a pale honey-gold hue. The legs are thin yet viscous. Nose: A mild alcohol sting on the nose quickly gives way to prominent notes of fresh grass and hay. Hints of honey, baking spices, damp wood, and Honeycrisp apple complete the wonderful aroma. Palate: Flavors of sea salt, fruit, honey, woody tannins, malt, and dark chocolate are present. It's quite enjoyable, though perhaps a bit intricate. Finish: The finish is of medium duration. The lingering taste is salty, slightly bitter, and remarkably creamy, reminiscent of a stout. Overall: This Scotch was wonderfully flavorful, lively, and full-bodied! It strongly reminded me of a stout beer, which I love. Adding a bit of water brings it to my preferred taste. I would certainly repurchase this and wholeheartedly endorse it! Cheers!

Tobermory is a close relative of Ledaig 10. Or, more precisely, Tobermory is the heir apparent, bearing the distillery's own name, while Ledaig 10 is the relative and next in line. The difference is that Tobermory's malt is unpeated, though its flavor profile supposedly picks up some peat influence from the spring water running over peat bogs. Honestly, I struggled to detect that here, but what is clear is that this is a premium single malt. The nose has a slightly oily scent, green apple, and toffee, and these flavors are complemented on the palate by a rich, chewy, pure cereal grain taste that is much more pronounced and cleaner than in a typical 10-year single malt. The finish also has cereal and oat flavors, providing a satisfying conclusion. For $50-60, you could do considerably worse.

Well now, what have we here? An unpeated island whisky, you say? Intriguing! If you like Bunna 12 or The Classic Laddie, this will appeal to you. It has a creamy malt character with a hint of tart citrus zest and a bit of salt. I'm almost tempted to mix a margarita with this pour. The finish is where this one truly excels. The alcohol content helps it linger for ages; it lasts so long you won't want it to stop. Much like how you wished Game of Thrones would never end. But, I digress... This dram is somewhat difficult to find. Its peated counterpart, Ledaig, is readily available, but perhaps people aren't seeking out an unpeated island whisky as much. Too bad. This is a high-quality spirit. Look for it. I received this as a small 50 ml sample. I'm working through my samples by year's end to focus on my open bottles. More reviews coming soon. Cheers!

Pale white wine color, 46.3% abv and unchill filtered. The nose presents a sweet, herbaceous scent. Funkiness. Anise and fennel dominate, aromas not typically found in Single Malt Scotch whisky, but rather present in fine Brazilian cachaças aged in Bálsamo wood. Quite peculiar, but I enjoy it immensely! The palate is predominantly spicy! Following that, a touch of sweetness and yellow fruits, though I can't quite identify them. (Melon, maybe?) The finish is exceptionally long, leaving a tingle on the tongue and a herbal flavor in the mouth. Fantastic! I believe that, similar to Springbank, Tobermory's (and therefore Ledaig's) distillate possesses its own unique "funkiness." Certainly not for everyone, but absolutely for me. And there you have it... another addition to the continuously expanding collection of exceptional 10-year-old whiskies.