An 18 year old from the Tomatin distillery, finished in Spanish oak Oloroso sherry butts.
The nose is quite punchy and of good body. There are notes of chewy grape and sultana with winter spice; cloves and cinnamon. There are notes of vanilla fudge and a most supple of smokes, weaving gracefully in cut grasses and apple peels. The palate is quite sweet and full. There are notes of barley sugar and honeycomb. Hints of chocolate orange and cocoa dusted liberally on toasty oak. The finish is long and powerful with a dry, chewy oak and a touch of pepper.
Rich and sherried, with orchard, citrus and dried fruit – apples, oranges and sultanas.
Sweet and honeyed, with a backbone of citrus, fruit cake, chocolate and spice.
Long and warming spice fades to leave fruit and chocolate.
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nose is not inviting. cask strength needs ice and water to dilute the harsh bite. this is not complex or smooth. not for me. I prefer complex layered stuff. glenmorangie Tusail and lasanta beat this
Compared to Glenfarclas 12, or any age, or Aberlour 12, this is rotgut! The nose, to me anyway, is chemically and the palate is has too much alcohol burn to enjoy neat. Glenfarclas and Aberlour are far better whiskeys at a far lower price! I'm sorry I wasted my money on this crap!
Maybe odd to note, but this reminds me of a terrific local Korean restaurant's pork belly dinner. There's probably a good word for melt-in-your-mouth bacony hammy fatty goodness; I think I've seen Anthony Bourdain come up with several. But lacking one, *that*. This whisky is just fatty, robust, and melts in your mouth (granted it starts as a liquid so...). One of my favorites.
Right there on the bottle "non-chill filtered", surprised MOM doesn't highlight that. This is pretty great, all the fatty stuff from the non-chill filtration and a good chocolate essence all the way through. Very similar to 18's from Aberlour and Auchentoshan, but I'll give it the extra star for ncf and the extra 3% abv.
This can be found stateside for around $55. For a complex, good tasting scotch, that is a steal. Try it neat, and then with some water. Snatch this up, you will not be disappointed.
