Tomintoul 21 Year

Nose: Freshly cut hay and grass, barley sugar, orchard fruits, mild soft citrus, a touch of vanilla. Initially, the aroma is crisp and restrained, but it later develops an earthy, dusty quality. There's a subtle honey scent, also with an earthy undertone. After some time, a fragrance emerges, reminiscent of nearly decayed flowers. Palate: A gentle yet very lightly spiced initial taste. Plenty of barley sugar, some butterscotch, and the flavor of both ripe and unripe fruits as it develops. It's not an exceptionally complex palate, but the flavors present are pleasant. It brought to mind lightly toasted muesli cereal with nuts and dried fruit. The texture is unremarkable. Finish: Medium to short. Slightly drying at first, then becoming sweeter, fading into an aftertaste of breakfast cereal dusted with cocoa powder and a little sugar. While Tomintoul is usually known for being a very soft and accessible whisky (their slogan is "the gentle dram"), this 21-year-old expression exhibits less of the appealing floral and fresh-fruit character found in their younger offerings. The cask influence is more pronounced here, but it doesn't manifest as oak cask aroma – it's more akin to sawdust and pencil shavings, and frankly, it's rather dull. This is a whisky that requires patience to reveal itself, but with repeated sips, its character does eventually unfold and intensify. However, it remains notably shy and subdued. It's very easy to drink but curiously uninspiring. I had hoped the distillery character would be enhanced by extended cask aging, but instead, it seems to have passed its peak. To its credit, it is very well-made, with no intrusive off-notes. For my palate, the 16-year-old Tomintoul represents the high point of the core range, and I would much rather purchase a bottle of that than this 21-year-old, which, at double the price, offers very little to recommend it. Tasted from a 30ml sample. "Above Average": 81/100 (3 stars)

This classic super fruity Speysider, which I usually avoid for being too simple or dull, had me anticipating something special. Given it's a 21-year-old single malt, I expected a certain quality. It's not that age alone improves a spirit, but distilleries often bottle their finest whiskies at older ages to truly impress consumers. Let's see how this one performed: At 40% ABV, it has a golden hue. On the nose, it's clean and highly floral, quite perfumed. Definitely cherries and fruitcake. Freshly sliced apples; it resembles an apple liqueur rather than cider. Cold fruitcake and fruit spices. After an initial taste, a distinct butterscotch note emerged alongside a faint aroma of burnt grass. On the palate, honey is easily noticeable. Old apples, hay. Very smooth and effortless, perhaps too much so. Dried peaches and a precise butterscotch hard candy flavor. The finish isn't particularly exciting, but it's not unpleasant. Old burnt hay, dry grass, paper. There's a subtle bitter/tobacco aftertaste that doesn't linger long. Overall, this was far from a worthwhile experience. It's an enjoyable, excessively drinkable whisky lacking soul. It's like sweet butterscotch juice with the most generic aromas and tastes imaginable. Too conservative, boring, and forgettable, especially for a 21-year-old single malt. Its affordability reflects its lack of interest. I rate it 79 out of 100.

GLASS: Glencairn Whiskey Glass NOSE: More composed than the sixteen year old. Citrus notes with subtle paraffin wax. The wood influence is more noticeable, as anticipated. PALATE: Glycerin mouthfeel. Candied orange, herbaceous, a hint of cola on the finish. Slightly too sweet. CONCLUSION: A decent dram but not to my personal taste.

Nose: cinnamon, nutmeg, red apple, vanilla, apricot, cedar wood Palate: initially silky, then more pronounced but not too spicy, sweet (caramel, vanilla) Finish: spice from the palate emerges, sticky, long, honey-sweet, oak, spice, moderately bitter A very gentle dram, perhaps too gentle for my preference.

It's acceptable, good, but merely adequate. For being 21 years old, it lacks complexity. I do find myself enjoying it, and I suspect it will perform well in blind tastings based on flavor alone, disregarding its price and age.

Aroma: creamy vanilla and dried fruit, with light citrus. Palate: light body, tannic and fruity, somewhat bitter. Finish: dry and citrusy, with some tannins, and a light burn.