Tasting Reviews

2022-05 – Malcolm A.

by webnoser

Ah yes, a themed evening, carefully planned and wonderfully executed by Malcolm. I’ll let you figure out what the core of the theme was from the info below.

The conclusion was that the boys were very eager to get stuck in, and that the most expensive isn’t always best, let alone good value.

Note to readers – I may not have these in the tasting order, but at least we’ve got data thanks to Malcolm.

Round 1: Tomatin 12 Year Old

Cost: $57 CDNRegion: Highland

Fun Facts:

The distillery operated with only two stills until 1958. Starting at that time, they began to add stills to increase production capacity, eventually reaching production of 12.5 million litres of whisky per year during the 1970s. Although in 1987 Tomatin was referred to as the largest malt distillery in Scotland, 3 stills have been dismantled since the mid-1980s, bringing their total capacity to just over 5 million litres, though as of 2007, they were only producing 2.5 million litres.


Around eighty percent of Tomatin’s whisky goes into blended whisky, including its own brands of Antiquary and Talisman. The distillery, as of late, has been making an effort to bolster its name as a producer of single malts and is expanding its core range. In 2003, Tomatin’s basic 10-year-old malt was replaced by the 12-year-old. Other limited releases are often made, including a 32-year, a 40-year and single-cask offerings. Recently, the distillery has begun to produce a lightly peated single malt called Cù Bòcan which is produced 1 week a year at the distillery.

NSC Comments:

  • Colour:
  • Nose: Buttery at first, but notes of raisin and almond soon take over
  • Palate: Oak-y vanilla and fresh mint, dotted with stem ginger and dried orange peel
  • Finish: Currant buns, a hint of raspberry jam, barley
  • Drinkability: 8.5,7.5,8.25,7.5,7.4,7.5,7.5

Round 2: Tomatin 18 Year Old

Cost: $129 CDNRegion: Highland

Fun Facts:

  • Said it already
  • Tomatin 18 Year Old was awarded DOUBLE GOLD at this year’s San Francisco World Spirit Competition, the largest spirits competition in the world!

NSC Comments:

  • Colour:
  • Nose: Punchy and of good body
  • Palate: Sweet and full, notes of honeycomb, and cocoa
  • Finish: Long and powerful with a touch of pepper
  • Drinkability: 7.0,6.75,7.0,6.5,6.875,6.5,7.0

Bonus Round:Tomatin Cu Bocan

Cost: $66 CDNRegion: Highland

Fun Facts:

  • Sigh… Look up, way up…

NSC Comments:

  • Colour:
  • Nose: A springy citrus blend of oranges and grapefruits which leads into a fresh, floral bloom
  • Palate: Smoke starts to seep through slowly, growing ever so slightly the longer it’s on the tongue. Subtle sweet chillies pop up, as well as a nutty note or two
  • Finish: Medium, with a final flash of the spectral smoke
  • Drinkability: 7.3,7.5,7.75,7.9,8.0,7.75,7.75