Tomatin is an active Speyside distillery founded in 1897. It had a period of rapid expansion during the 1960’s and was working at full capacity between 1975 and 1980. After bankrupcy in 1985, it is currently owned by a Japanese group.
This 31 year-old Tomatin was distilled in November 1976 and matured in a refill sherry cask.
Tomatin 31y 1976 (49,6%, Scotch Single Malt Circle 2008, cask #19085, 336 btl.)
Tomatin 31y 1976 (49,6%, Scotch Single Malt Circle 2008, cask #19085, 336 btl.)Nose: ooh, honeyed and tropically fruity like old Speysiders (let’s say Glenrothes or Linkwood) or even old Bowmore can be. Exotic fruits: mango, pineapple, tangerine marmelade. Demerara sugar. Banana. Strawberry. Hints of cigar box and lavender. Slight waxy notes and silky vanilla. Just marvellous.
Mouth: still very fruity (banana, apple, berries) but a lot more wood now. Hints of kirsch / rum. Resinous notes. Slightly tannic and sourish. Fading towards grapefruit.
Finish: rather long, more wood, half fruity / half spicy with a faint bitterness. Even a salty edge (liquorice).
The nose of this Tomatin is tropical perfection, but on the palate there are a few less gentle (out of tune?) notes that counter-balance the overall fruitiness. A real treat anyway. Around € 155.
Score: 90/100