🥃 Whisky Auctioneer

Nose: Glue, orange, candied orange peel, sweetness. Palate: This bottling has a certain depth, old-school aromas, and is difficult to pin down as new impressions keep emerging. It needs some time to develop. It definitely needs a little water, but not too much. The sweet spot is hard to find and lies at just under 50%. Finish: Caramel, among other things. Summary: Overall, an exciting and good whisky that wants to be discovered. Highly recommended.

Delicious - varied - lots of sherry but not a 'typical' modern sherry bomb I understand why the malt was so popular. But for me, it's not a high-flyer or a unicorn either. Oranges or oreangeat. Spicy – more from the barrel than the alcohol. The impression remains even when diluted. Leathery, with some herbal notes. Not an overly sweet malt. It tolerates water and retains its strong, spicy flavor. Some younger malts can become a bit harsher as a result. Fortunately, this one won't. Without the hype, it might even be a buy candidate. I wouldn't want to spend more than the RRP.

A true old-school armchair whisky. It needs water and time in the glass (without that, I'd probably value it at 89p), but with a little patience, it becomes truly brilliant, especially considering the price. Quality-wise, it's on par with family cask whiskies that cost twice as much. The only caveat: you have to like it dry. Although it was matured in a hogshead and not a butt, it has more European oak characteristics, with a correspondingly austere, astringent, leathery-tobacco-like finish. PS: In terms of style, it reminds me of WB232988, which is also nominally 17 years old, but in terms of sensor technology seems significantly older and more mature. Edit: After a few weeks, I tried it again after a Glenfarclas 40-year-old at 46% ABV, and in direct contrast, the tropical fruits promised on the label were suddenly there: pineapple, guava, melon, nashi pear... I don't know now whether it was the oxidation in the opened bottle or the contrast of this younger, fruitier malt to the older, more settled, oakier one that brought them out of my senses – but it was definitely impressive. Perhaps it was simply the right amount of water; I had diluted it more this time to match the drinking strength of the Glenfarclas. By the way: This tomato can tolerate a surprisingly large amount of water without losing its integrity.

The cask dominates, contributing a herbal, bitter edge I’ve previously only encountered in pre-1985 Armagnacs. Immensely dense and complex, alcohol is well integrated. There are Fabbri Amarena cherries, marzipan, and a high-toned fragrant fruitiness (likely what GM refers to as “tropical”) that stands up to the wood and integrates well with the sherry influence. The palate opens with an astringent, almost carbonic bite often associated with heavy oak. A yeasty, fermentation-driven note emerges, especially with dilution, hinting at Tomatin’s distillery character. The finish is long, dense, herbal and bittersweet. Everything is dialed up, the cask has an immense impact, yet there still remains balance. Doesn't need any water. Seems like a successful hybrid of old Armagnac and whisky. The empty glass shows the typical cloudy Armagnac film. Highly engaging; worth taking time with. Those who appreciate this profile should try a Darroze Bellair.

88.7 Overall, a whisky with a very clear profile. Very elegant, not at all cask-driven, with subtle cherry notes, delicate wood, and a light ethereal quality.

On the nose, I get plenty of Black Forest cherry, rum-soaked raisins, baked apple, and the classic "old gentleman's study" (leather armchair, bookshelf, cigar box, wooden floorboards) with a hint of mint. Absolutely "old school." This continues on the palate with a sweet and sour note and a touch of butterscotch, and the finish is remarkably slow for a 17-pointer. Tropical fruits? Not at all, in my opinion. However, it reminds me of WB85977. Not quite as smooth, but the profile is similar.

Not a sherry bomb for me, but definitely intense in terms of sherry aromas. Delicious nonetheless.

A great old-school sherry style, in my opinion, without any overpowering sweetness. Delicious and I really like it. It can and should be explored at leisure.

What a beautiful bottling! Extremely harmonious and elegant, deep and multifaceted, both fruity and chocolatey, spicy, and also with very delicate herbal notes that add that certain something. Stylistically, it really doesn't have much in common with contemporary sherry bottlings. With current or modern sherry whiskies, I sometimes have the feeling (to put it somewhat exaggeratedly) that I have two different liquids in my mouth at the same time – whisky and sherry. That's not the case here. The aromas are all interwoven in an exemplary way, creating an absolutely harmonious and coherent overall impression that also allows for a beautiful interplay of flavors – depending on the temperature and air exposure in the glass, the sweet chocolate notes, the fresh fruity notes, or the dried fruit and herbal notes come to the fore. It's delightful! When you've finished, the glass smells so wonderful that you usually pour yourself another immediately – and then – suddenly – it smells even more delicious and multifaceted than before. It also seems significantly older than stated. I think this thing is really great, and my 10cl sample evaporated pretty quickly. Good thing I have a full bottle of it in the cupboard to open afterwards.

Nose The nose opens with a powerful burst of alcohol. It practically leaps from the glass, initially appearing quite aggressive. Robust sherry and intense spice immediately take center stage. However, with a little time, the whisky becomes noticeably calmer. The wood now emerges clearly, lending structure to the nose. Even with a few drops of water, it remains virtually unchanged. The spice continues to dominate, but now seems more harmonious and better integrated. The taste On the palate, the spice immediately takes center stage. Wood accompanies the entire experience. There's significantly less sherry influence than the nose initially suggested. The Tomatin is robust, straightforward, and unpretentious. Water barely alters it; the aromas remain virtually unchanged. Conclusion Blindly, I would have easily guessed it was older. It's certainly tasty, and I'd let an unopened bottle rest for a few more years. This Tomato wine could benefit from that, but it's still not for me.

Tomatin isn't one of my favorite whiskies and it rarely comes up for sale. The core range hasn't particularly interested me, and independent Tomatin isn't readily available. That's why this rather dark bottling from Gordon & MacPhail's Connoisseurs Choice series, from a refill hogshead, is intriguing. glen-efze.de