Tomatin 36 yo 1976/2012 (49.3%, The Whiskyman, 103 bottles)
From a short lived series by our much loved friend Dominiek Bouckaert. Colour: pale amber. Nose: extremely fruity! Reminiscent of this rather rustic + exotic old school Irish style in some regards with tinned pineapple, papaya and guava mixed up with old copper coins, tiny sooty notes, roots, then also greener orchard fruits, cassis, mango jam and a hint of serrano ham which presumably comes from the sherry. Totally gorgeous and luscious nose. In time I find a lovely wee menthol and minty touch too. Mouth: every bit as brilliant as the nose, which is seriously impressive. Stunningly fleshy and textural fruitiness. Fruit syrups, mango pulp, guava jam, lemon curd, tinned pineapple rings in their juices. Then also deeper and firmer notes of wood spices, cinnamon bark, earthy dark teas, liquorice and fir wood resins. Many dried exotic fruits and teas galore! Finish: long and wonderfully fruity, some overripe banana mashed up with darker fruits, more cinnamon, mint and lovely camphor touches which go towards waxes in the aftertaste. Comments: pure fruit juice! Hats off to you Mr B!
SGP: 651 - 92 points.

Tomatin 15 yo 1963/1981 (80 proof, 'Bottled by University Arms Hotel, Cambridge', sherry)
A very rare old bottle that I cracked open recently. Had a screw cap and a driven wine cork with the hotel name printed on - very cool! The University Arms Hotel still exists and appears to be a rather 'up market' place to stay in Cambridge. Colour: deep reddish amber. Nose: utterly exquisite old style sherry! Another type of fruit bomb entirely, one dominated by plump and juice sultanas, plums, raisins, damson puree and figs soaking in very old Armagnac. Add to that the dampest and most scented of pipe tobaccos, unlit cigars, wine cellar must and walnut oil. A whole glass full of rancio! Mouth: perfectly bitter black coffee and pristinely dark chocolate, more toasted and crushed walnuts, expensive salted liquorice, treacle full of sea salt, tar liqueur and aged Fernet Branca with these myriad bitter herbal notes. A gorgeous and complex bitterness that never strays too far into excess against the fruits. Still many notes of prune, plum, walnut and coffee liqueur. Stunning and utterly old school. Finish: medium in length but sappy, herbal, deeply earthy and even showing a surprisingly resilient dark fruit sweetness along with all these layers of rancio and ancient Oloroso sherry. Comments: you can never say how much was cask Vs Tomatin distillate in these old style sherry bombs, and anyway with such a rare bottle who cares, all you can really do is sit back and let it wash over you!
SGP: 662 - 93 points.