A 43 year-old Tomatin is not something you try every day. This 1965 vintage was bottled in March 2009 by German shop Whisky-Doris. What’s even more interesting, is that around the same time, a similar cask was bottled, the Daily Dram Oat Mint. I’ll have them side by side.

Tomatin 43yo 1965 (48,2%, Whisky-Doris 2009, cask #20950, 194 btl.)

Nose: very assertive nose, with sweet fruits. Melons, peaches, some passion fruits. Maybe less creamy than the Daily Dram. Less vanilla as well. Pears and mango. Fresh mint. White pepper, more so than in Oat Mint. A tad sharper as well, less gentle. Mouth: fat and spicy. Nutmeg, mint again, pepper. Peach and pears mixed with a decent amount of wood. Hints of peat! Again less gentle than Oat Mint. Finish: long. Big oak now and big spices.

This Tomatin is more punchy than its Belgian sister but I’m not sure that’s a good thing. The Daily Dram has a slightly more fruity, mellow profile. If you prefer spicy whisky though (with more oak), this is the one to go for.
Price: 150 euro. Still available.

Score: 88/100