Tomatin 1988 Limited Release Scotch Whisky

I must say, it was a real treat to be able to try a couple of drams of this Limited Release Tomatin. It was arguably the rarest whisky I've ever tasted to date! Also important to note that this particular bottle was from Batch 2 of this 1988 Limited Release series and just one of 2,500 bottles available worldwide. The label listed the age as 'matured for over twenty-five years,' but I did the math and it came out to be a 26-year-old single malt. I'll admit, prior to tasting this whisky, I hadn't known much about Tomatin other than it being a distillery located in the village of Tomatin somewhere within the Highland region. If you're a fan of the Outlander TV/book series, this distillery is located about 25 minutes south of the town of Inverness (to give you perspective). I would recommend the series if you're into history, romance, and suspense. Moving on, this whisky was quite an enjoyable treat! If you fancy something like an Oban Little Bay or a Bruichladdich Bere Barley, the Tomatin 1988 might be right up your alley. On the nose there are just layers upon layers of fruit, cereal grains, and sweetness which continue to evolve over time the longer you allow your pour to breathe. On the palate, the sweetness continues to carry through, adding a hint of salt and mild spices. The smooth, lengthy finish was also quite memorable - sweet, fruity (think apricot and other orchard fruits), barley, hint of salt, followed by a bit of lingering smoke. There's clearly a lot of depth with this single malt. I drank it neat, but I don't doubt that had I added a drop or two of water, the flavor profiles would have evolved even more. Don't worry, Tomatin. You've done well! NOSE: Porridge, oranges, marmalade, cantaloupe, honey, caramel, vanilla, molasses PALATE: Honey, coconut, mint, salt, mild spices FINISH: Apricot, confectioners' sugar, cereal grains, lingering salt, mild smoke Rating: 87/100 Grade: B+ Great - always want to have a bottle.