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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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March 24, 2023 |
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Little Duos, two unusual Tomintoul
Remember, Tomintoul is 'the gentle dram'. Now I remember I had once camped near the Distillery (like 40 years ago) and got eaten to the bones by zillions of midges that were anything but 'gentle'. Little f*****s!
(Photograph Tomintoul Distillery) |
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Tomintoul 12 yo 2010/2022 (58.4%, Watt Whisky, Ruby Port finish, 282 bottles) 
Isn't ruby a gentler kind of Port indeed? Colour: rosé wine. Nose: sorcery! What they really got right is that they're using softer, gentler malts indeed, rather than big boys like the peaters, Ben Nevis or else, to do their finishings. It is a good way of avoiding any clashes. Anyway, we're nosing a fresh fraisier cake (génoise sponge, cream, strawberry syrup and fresh strawberries, plus sometimes roasted bits of pistachios) plus indeed some pinot noir rosé. Some cracked pepper, which works extremely well with strawberries anyway. With water: grenadine syrup and cloves, with some sour wood. Less obvious when reduced. Mouth (neat): not that easy, some bitterer spices seem to be fighting the strawberries and all that happens right on your tongue. With water: nicer, sweeter, easier. Blood oranges big time, plus indeed grenadine and, I would say, prickly pears. Finish: medium, sour, sweet and spicy. Reminds me of cherry stem tea. Comments: the trick would be to be able to do a finishing without using any wood. Let's send a letter to the SWA… Anyway, the new Tormore ex-rye is in a whole different league, I think.
SGP:651 - 82 points. |
Hey, we were having a 1972 in the boxes! (not in the shelves – but does that matter)… |
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Tomintoul 40 yo 1972/2012 (48.5%, Maltbarn, bourbon) 
Remember, 1972, vintage of the century. But there are several vintages of the century within each century; if you listen to the Champagne makers they've already had a good dozen since the beginning of the current one, and it is accelerating, it's truly a miracle! Yeah, yeah… Colour: gold. Nose: subtle notes of mead and pollen, gianduja, milk chocolate, all-flower honey, dandelions, then sultanas, arrack, dried figs… I have to say anything containing dried figs wins in my book. Awesome nose, firmer than those of the 1960s vintages that were rather more fragile. Mouth: the figs are having the lead, and those figs are starting to ferment. It is an unusual feeling. Some orange wine too (I mean wine made out of oranges), some curious hints of silver (spoon), and just more mead. Finish: medium, a little fermentary, with a little ginger and bitter beer. It is almost as if the whisky had started to re-ferment (which cannot happen, we agree). Comments: great fun. The nose was pristine, the palate a tad more, say uncertain, but it's a wonderful old whisky, indeed great fun in your glass.
SGP:551 - 88 points. |
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