Tomatin Decades

One of the great advantages of being part of our distillery trading group is the opportunity to receive premium bonus samples. The Decades from Tomatin is one such high-quality offering. This blend comprises whiskies from five distinct decades, maturing in Tomatin's warehouse. Consequently, it could contain components ranging from 3 years old to as old as 59 years. It's bottled at 46% ABV, is non-chill filtered, and likely possesses a natural amber-gold color. The nose initially presents as quite mild, with a light sherry sweetness, lemon, and subtle oak. Orchard fruits emerge, including apricots, tangerines, and oranges. There are vegetal notes with an earthy peat. It feels waxy and oily. The fruitiness evolves into tropical flavors, primarily mango, with hints of papaya and pineapple. Abundant vanilla and a general nuttiness are present. This spirit continuously develops in the glass, revealing notes of cocoa powder, mocha, and maple syrup. Buttery toffee, buttery cookies, a touch of ginger, licorice, and nutmeg are also detected. The fruity profile circles back to apples and pears, with cinnamon and a light cherry note. Some floral honey is also noticeable. It displays considerable complexity, though it requires some patience to fully appreciate. The palate begins with a slight heat, but it's rewarding as an intense wave of tropical fruits washes over the tongue: mango, papaya, pineapple, and coconut. It's akin to chewing a mouthful of tropical fruit Starburst candy. Lemons, oranges, and apricots are present, along with a bit of banana. Cocoa and vanilla, along with very light oak, are also detected. The peat is subtle, leaning more towards an earthy/vegetal character than smoke. It is undeniably a dessert dram, and a very good one at that. The mouthfeel is medium-full bodied, oily, and coating. It has a medium-long finish with abundant tropical fruits. It's somewhat on the drier side. While its initial impression was somewhat underwhelming, it more than compensated with its depth of complexity and a powerful burst of flavors on the palate. It seems the majority of this spirit is under 15 years old, but there's a significant presence of mature whisky. It's not perfectly balanced, leaning heavily towards sweetness, but that's sometimes desirable. At $110, I consider it worth the price, provided it's reserved for moments when a sweet craving strikes. A big thank you to the individual who provided the sample. My rating is 4.25, but it could easily reach 4.5 depending on my mood. Cheers

This is likely among the superior Tomatin bottles I've sampled, and I've tried a significant number. It's a NAS whisky, but not in the way we typically expect from a non-age statement: young spirit. This bottling combines Tomatin stock spanning five distinct decades to create a truly memorable dram honoring Tomatin’s master distiller/blender. You’ll find notes from the rebellious 60s, the disco 70s, new wave 80s, the angsty 90s, and the musical disaster of the 00s within this bottle. Amazingly, they harmonize to create something beautiful. It was bottled at the optimal 46% ABV, is NCF, and contains no added color. I believe a friend paid about $110 for this bottle. What a bargain! The aroma begins with classic sherry cask sweetness, then a generous amount of orchard and tropical fruits emerge, accompanied by a faint whisper of peat and smoke. There's that peculiar candle wax note if you allow it to sit, but it doesn't detract from the experience. The taste is reminiscent of a sugary, chocolate breakfast cereal with a warm toffee and alcohol foundation. The slight impact from the younger stock and ABV prevents this from being a perfect score, but it's remarkably close. It truly is dessert in a glass. The finish is regrettably of medium length, which is disappointing simply because I wished it would persist. It offers tropical and sweet notes, feeling oily initially before becoming slightly dry. It just needed more duration. Alternatively, I needed another dram to experience it all again. Send more! Overall, I feel compelled to seek this one out for my collection. This spirit is exceptional, and I could happily conclude a substantial meal with a dram or two daily and be completely content. A solid 4.75 stars. Wonderful stuff. Cheers.

The feeling of excitement in the Christmas air. As the day winds down and the final gifts are wrapped, I poured myself a Tomatin. Why? Why not? The nose opens with honey, vanilla, tea, and tropical fruits like pineapples and apricots. A couple more inhales reveal caramel apple-crumb pie with a sprinkle of cinnamon spice. Time allows the nose to develop, making the aromas more vivid and alive. A sip reveals a liquid that is sweet, turning spicy, with a medium-light body. Brown sugar, honey, Tabasco, and powdered cocoa each make their presence known on the palate. The experience is brief, blending into the finish. The finish presents oak dryness that transitions into a tingling sensation on the tongue from fresh ginger root. This pins-and-needles feeling gradually subsides into an oaky, orange-bitter finish that lingers. My initial encounter with Tomatin left me uncertain of what to anticipate, and I was pleasantly surprised. Despite its sweetness, the characteristic spicy zing takes center stage. It could serve as an ideal aperitif. Sweet and spicy: always an exhilarating journey. Many thanks to a friend for facilitating my first Tomatin experience. [87/100][Tasted: 12/23/17]

After a week of business meetings in Denver, I was eager to return home and begin our fourth round with our small trading group. We have about 3-4 more rounds until we've explored all the active distilleries in Scotland. So... this one came my way thanks to a friend. I don't believe I've ever tried a Tomatin before, despite seeing it on shelves numerous times. But this specific version is even more appreciated because it's difficult to find... at least, I've personally never encountered it. It's apparently a blend of stock from 5 different decades... meaning, is there a small component from 50 years ago? I wasn't sure how to interpret that. Regardless... a fantastic dram. Cereals and chocolate. Orchard fruits like apricots and peaches. Avoid ice... it becomes bland with it. Have it with just a few drops of water. I can imagine this pairing well with spicy Asian food, as the chocolate and fruit would balance it nicely. Thanks, friend!

This is an excellent illustration of what a NAS should be, but is it truly a NAS? The details are that it is a combination of 67 - one refill sherry hogshead, 76 - oloroso sherry butt, 84 - refill sherry hogshead, 90 - first fill bourbon barrels, and 05 - first fill bourbon barrels. The nose is incredibly intricate with cherry cordial, both light and dark fruit, caramel, chocolate, vanilla, Rice Krispie treats; it's all there. The palate is equally intricate with butterscotch, toffee, dark chocolate, black cherries, peach cobbler, and cream. The finish is medium in length, bright, with undertones of tobacco and basil. I'm uncertain of its rarity, but I place it on par with the Bruichladdich Black Arts 4 1990. It was found in a dusty box on the highest shelf of a local shop. A fitting theme for this dram is "Close to the Edge" by Yes. Long, elaborate, and thoroughly rewarding.

It needs a little time to open up, but when it does... it's quite nice. Tropical and fruity, with a subtle hint of toasted marshmallow.