Tomatin Cuatro Series #2 "Manzanilla" 12 Year

Okay, so I didn't get the PX finished bottle (it wasn't at the store where I purchased these) and I'll discuss it as I go through them. Otherwise, I'll focus on the Manzanilla, but this will be a comparative review. Nose - The Manzanilla has vanilla notes but lacks butterscotch. It's sweeter, and there's much more to smell overall here, far more intense. The Oloroso is drier, with dark sherry fruits and less of the grape/wine character. There's significantly less butterscotch and vanilla here. Fino - butterscotch, vanilla, some dark fruits, possibly some grape/wine elements. After swirling, I start to detect some oak, almost like buttered toast. The Fino might be the most complex, but the Oloroso is the most powerful and frankly, by far my favorite. The Manzanilla is the sweetest. Taste - Manzanilla - sweet and oily, fruity, but no distinct finish. I could believe this was just a Speyside, though it's a bit too fruit-forward and sweet for my taste if it weren't finished. Oloroso - more spice, perhaps spicier. Chocolate, dark fruits (waxy). I believe there's more influence from the finishing. Fino - Spicy, it has a good vanilla note, some nice Fino characteristics (I know). Some fruity elements, light fruits, but spicy. My initial observation is that these have improved considerably since I first opened them, and I was getting almost no finishing notes. That said, these still have a prominent bourbon character, likely from fairly used casks for the secondary fill. Manzanilla - Overall, this is an interesting spirit to drink. However, it's not really for me. 12 years is a bit young for this one. I think a heavier finish would really benefit it if they were aiming for 12 years old. That said, I'm still very pleased with this. At over $60, I wouldn't recommend this unless you're doing a side-by-side comparison like this. This is a bottle that won't be finished this year, and maybe not next. You'll notice I wrote the same sentiment for the Fino and Oloroso. I somewhat enjoy the more vanilla and sweet notes here. I like the finishing on the other two, but they developed a spicy character I don't associate with wine casking. That said, it's subtle and waxy with heavy vanilla. It's not my preference, and it comes across as the youngest. As a result, a slightly lower score.

I found this one quite pleasing. Dried fruits, Marcona almonds, vanilla, herbs, olive, and a sea breeze are present on both the aroma and taste. Adding a tiny bit of water brings out the savory characteristics more distinctly. It's truly an outstanding choice of cask selection; you can clearly detect the key notes of Manzanilla sherry (which is rich, yet salty and savory) without sacrificing the soft, sweet essence of the Tomatin malt. Well done!

The Manzanilla offers salty, nutty flavors. Citrus notes of lemon and orange peel are present, along with a mild bitterness. Initially, I thought it was a decent dram, but not one I'd consume frequently. However, adding a few drops of water and letting it breathe significantly improved it. Rating: 3.75

Tastes quite medicinal. I am not a big fan. Now I understand my dislike - the finish is identical to tequila, which I detest.

Flavor profile: brine, butterscotch, cooked apples

A note from, recorded on December 7, 2017.