After tasting the lovely 1988 vintage, It’s time to try the new 14 year old Tomatin, the latest addition to their core range. With the drop of the 30 and 15 year old , the 14 fills the space left by the 15 year old, while the 1988 filled the void left by the 30 year old. What’s common to those two is the use of Port pipes in maturation of both expressions. The 14 year old expression has spent around 13 years in the finest Bourbon oak barrels, with a further year in specially selected Portuguese port pipes which had previously held Tawny port for between 30 and 40 years. Given that cask profile we should expect a lovely sweetish edge and some red fruit and wine notes we usually associate with Port Pipe finishing. let’s out this to the test:
Tomatin 14 year old, 46% abv, £48.95 [The whisky Exchange]
Nose: Fruity and sweet, starting with a mix of red fruit (raspberries, strawberries, cherries), and a malty biscuit-y edge, hints of apple strudel infused with sticky toffee. 70% dark chocolate with a touch of spicy oak and wine gums.
Palate: Fruity and sweet, with ripe plum, nutty (nut and almond pie), pie crust, and a mix fruit starting with dried apricot then ripe mango and cocoa.
Finish: Medium long, with the fruits lingering, as in fruit salad, sprinkled with vanilla and milk chocolate.
Bottom line:
This is a delicious whisky, and in my opinion far better than the 15 year old, it replaces. The Port Pipe finish did add a lot of lovely sweetness and fruit which complement the malty backbone and go together very well. Not a bad price too, and great VFM, meaning it’s one to definitely seek out. Impressive addition to the core range there. I think I shall opt for a bottle.
One thought on “Quick Dram : Tomatin 14 yo”