Cù Bòcan 2005 Vintage

The story behind Cù Bòcan is beautiful; it's about a HELLHOUND that haunts Tomatin village, and if it appears and you try to touch it, it turns into ghostly smoke. That's why Tomatin calls its peaty dram Cù Bòcan. Aged for 11 years, bottled at 50% ABV, amber color. On the nose, it's very intense: Peppery-Islay type of aroma at first. Very strong. There's some sweetness behind the initial powerful layer. Worcestershire sauce (typical of peaty whiskies). It's more earthy than smoky. Prunes. Faint blackberry aroma. Quite complex, but that's to be expected from a 50% ABV dram, with lots of flavors and aromas. After letting it sit for 5 minutes, the peppery/earthy peatiness remains, but the sweet dried fruit aromas intensify in a very pleasant way. It's still too strong to actually dip your nose into the Glencairn. Due to its strength and the difficulty in enjoying the sweet aromas, I can't score it very high on the nose, even though it's complex. On the palate, sweet vanilla oakiness, then a spicy/peppery sensation, not harsh for 50% ABV, actually very pleasant. Smoky on the palate, delicious, sweet, spicy, smoky – perfectly balanced. A little toffee can also be detected. Aftertaste is also peppery and long; fresh. Pleasant. A truly nice dram. Overall, I can score this dram a 92 out of 100, and I feel I'm being dishonest with it; it feels like more.

Tonight, I cracked open a new bottle. With several peated Scotches currently available, I opted for another Tomatin: Cu Bocan. The name refers to a legendary creature said to wander the Scottish hamlets near the Tomatin distillery. It's a solid 92 proof and priced very reasonably at $55. This expression is released yearly, and this tasting isn't for the 2005 vintage shown; it's for the 2015 edition. Its appearance in the glass is a light yellow, showing good legs after a swirl. The aroma is absolutely incredible. A vibrant lemon zest hits you immediately, followed by the typical sherry sweetness, all balanced by a subtle hint of smoke, making it quite complete. The scent is almost enough to make your mouth water. A bold, spicy oak flavor with a citrusy kick instantly awakens your palate. The finish is similarly lively and provides warmth as it settles. In sum, this is a highly satisfying single malt. The packaging and description mention peated smoke, but I didn't detect enough on the taste to confirm. It's present in the aroma, but that's where it largely resides. Considering its affordable cost, I'd call this Tomatin a significant success. It would serve well as a casual, post-work dram. You should definitely try to find this one. Enjoy.

The aroma presents lemon and honey with a hint of smoke. It has a noticeable bite on the palate, which is mellowed by a little water. Sherry flavors, sweet and smooth, are balanced by pepper and spice. The lingering finish is warm with a mild, slick texture. It's good, but not exceptional.

I neither love it nor hate it. I'm drinking the 50% version, and as much as I dislike adding water, this one needs a touch, then it's quite tasty. Do I regret buying it? No. Would I buy it again? No. There's much better out there for the price of this...

Starts out incredibly smooth, finishing with a gentle spice. It has fruit notes accompanied by a whisper of peat.

Slightly sweet apples, honey, a touch of smoke, alcohol is a bit strong