Tomatin 18 Year Oloroso Sherry Casks

Tomatin 12 is a single malt that doesn't get enough credit. You get a good quality for a reasonable price. I decided to buy the 18-year after seeing how the 12 performed. This bottle is from the older packaging with the thin black box, so it's certainly not recent, and it could have been bottled over ten years ago, so results can differ significantly. Smell: Butterscotch, honey, toffee, caramel, and vanilla. Almond and walnut that have been toasted. Plum, date, fig, and golden raisin emerge over time, showing the Olorosso sherry's impact. Some perfumed notes are present, similar to some of the Macallan Edition No. Series (thinking 3 and 5.) Honeydew. Taste: Gala apple. Caramel, toffee, and milk chocolate. Citrusy orange. Malt. Heavy on the almond, this time with some salted peanut. Sugar cookie. Golden raisin and apricot. Vanilla frosting. Cantaloupe. Almost no spice. Just a hint of white pepper. Oak. Finish: More of that Olorosso red fruit. Fig, date, plum, cranberry. Golden raisin. Toasted almond and walnut. Gala apple and apricot. Cinnamon, white pepper, and oak. The spice is definitely noticeable on the finish. Lasts a moderate amount of time..75/1/.75 Another excellent creation from Tomatin. It has a well-rounded character that emphasizes some of the classic qualities of a sherried Speyside. It's not distinctive enough for the very top tier, but it's a highly focused malt that is almost beyond critique given its aims. And what are those aims? It's a Highland malt that is affordable with an unusually low price. It's easy to get into for both price and flavor for the typical whisky drinker. At $85, this is incredibly inexpensive for an 18-year, which I consider to be the turning point in a distillery's range: it separates the everyday drinker from the ultra-premium category. And it's priced as if it were a standard daily drinker. It's a fantastic whisky to offer to friends who are new to the category. And yet, a Scotch enthusiast who doesn't like bland drinks will still appreciate it. 4.25/5. Well done, Tomatin.

Distilled in 2017. I'll likely be purchasing more of Tomatin's 12, 15, and 18 year old expressions soon. Tomatin produces capable single malts at incredible prices. I've seen this 18 year old for as little as $70. To be clear, Tomatin's nose and palate do resemble an economy malt; however, when compared to other economy malts I've sampled: Glen Moray, Tullibardine, Speyburn; Tomatin is actually enjoyable enough to warrant a full bottle purchase. If I had tasted this without knowing what it was, I might have guessed it was 12-15 years old, not 18; unless I could discern its Tomatin origin. Tomatin's distillate has a distinctive green apple and pear fruitiness that I find quite recognizable. The oloroso sherry cask influence is evident but not deeply integrated. The raisins, sultanas, plums, and nutmeg are present on the surface of this dram, but they don't penetrate the core of this whisky, which is grassy and honeyed. If you try too hard to find deeper complexity in this whisky, you'll discover imperfect spices and vanilla notes from tired wood from a repeated cask use. This whisky is best appreciated with partial attention; it's a good dram for sipping while cooking, for instance, which is acceptable given the price point. Ultimately, this whisky is far from unforgettable; but the price is also far from unreasonable. Score: 0 (forgettable) Price range: $70-100 My perceived value: $75

On the nose, it's sweet and vibrant, with a subtle herbaceous character that balances a wealth of ripe fruit (pineapple, peach, pear, plum), alcohol-soaked raisins, milk candy, and cinnamon. In the background, a gentle woody note (watch out for splinters). It's pleasant but not overpowering. The palate is intriguing, presenting a slightly bitter edge of licorice and anise alongside the fruit's sweetness. This, combined with chocolate, hazelnuts, and, naturally, cinnamon, adds body to the drink. The wood becomes more noticeable, almost intrusive but managing to stay just a step back, leaving the tongue dry. A certain floral freshness persists, though mostly in the background. A medium-long finish composed of wood, anise, hazelnuts, and raisins. I admit the bitter aspect is somewhat unsettling, and it might be quite off-putting to some, but for me, it's what elevated this whisky, making it diverse and engaging. Sherry finishes tend to all feel the same, whereas here, the wood has contributed to a sense of three-dimensionality. It's right on the edge; another nudge and it might have fallen apart (so, more than ever, this is a highly personal impression), but I'm giving it my approval.

Compared to other sherry-finished whiskies I've tried recently, this is a significant downgrade. It begins sweet and not unpleasant on the initial taste, but then, as another reviewer noted, it develops green apple-like notes with a bitter finish. This is my eleventh different Tomatin expression, and while most have been average, this ranks near the bottom for me, though better than their 'Five Virtues' releases. This distillery's output is generally unremarkable, similar to another brand that struggles to produce exceptional spirits, although independent bottlings can be outstanding. This specific bottling shows good spirit but poor, tired, overused cask influence. There's a reason it's one of the less expensive 18-year-old options.

Finally, a decent Tomatin. I've had a couple of their cheaper core varieties before, and they weren't particularly impressive. This one is excellent. Bottled at 43% ABV. On the nose: Amontillado sherry (similar to Glenmorangie Tayne) (I know it's Oloroso sherry, but it tasted like Amontillado to me). Orange Marmalade and chocolate cake. It's just like Glenmorangie The Tayne but without the alcohol burn. On the palate: More of the same; Orange, Cake, Tobacco; Bitterness comes and goes. The finish is very long and seems to repeat on your palate, almost never ending. Overall, I think this is a fantastic dram; for me, it's at least a 95 out of 100, and if you ever try Tomatin, make sure you start with this one.

(First try, after opening and letting it rest in the glass for 30 minutes) Nose: Initially, strong tropical fruit notes like pineapple and mango hit me. Revisiting it, it brings to mind a diner's butterscotch malt. Tropical fruits, butterscotch, caramel, vanilla, barley sugar, and oak are present. Palate: Oak, butterscotch, apple, pineapple, and a hint of spice. The mouthfeel is thick and velvety, exceptionally smooth and creamy. Overall, this is likely the best value Scotch I've ever acquired. It cost $75 and was well worth the price. Being non-chill filtered, having natural color, and bottled at 46% ABV contribute to its excellence. If you can find it between $75 and $85, buy two. 10/10 for value, 8.5/10 for palate, 9/10 for nose.