Two Tomintoul

Tomintoul 10 yo 2010/2021 (56.7%, Watt Whisky, refill butt, 246 bottles)
Color: pale gold. Nostril: okay, so first off, this isn’t truly meek in any respect. It is slightly extra rounded and elegantly candy, with this good impression of golden syrup unfold on brown toast, some custard, youthful dessert wines and wee touches of pollens and candy breakfast cereals. It’s ‘mild’ however not with out character in any respect. Somewhat nice. With water: some materials, a bit plasticine and sunflower oil. Nonetheless slightly light and playful. Mouth: once more this similar impression of lightness of contact with an easy and pleasing character that would come with extra seedy brown breads, extra golden syrup and honey, extra breakfast cereals akin to Weetabix and a few barely extra mechanical touches like mineral oil and shoe polish. With water: funnily sufficient water appears to boost the feel and flesh out the entire profile with some hessian, olive oil and touches of aniseed. Traditional refill sherry profile in some regards. End: medium in size, some marzipan, lemon cough drops, extra breads – I believe it is truly at its most strong within the end. Feedback: A tremendous wee Tomintoul, no complaints right here.
SGP: 551 – 85 factors.

Tomintoul 2004/2020 (60.4%, OB for Royal Mile Whiskies, cask #2229, bourbon, 389 bottles)
This cask was apparently chosen for RMW by Mr Robert Fleming to have fun his 30 years working on the distillery. Color: gold. Nostril: lively and extremely scented American oak at play right here. However not in a vulgar means, slightly that is all on pineapple syrup, shredded coconut, white pepper, freshly muddled mint and even wee medical hints akin to Tiger Balm. I discover it superb to this point, though that is clearly fairly a contemporary ‘technological’ type. With water: doubles down on this extremely scented and fragrant profile from the wooden, unique hardwood resins, tropical fruit teas and incense. Mouth: the arrival is slightly mentholated and suggestive of eucalyptus resins, tea tree oil, rolling tobacco and dried herbs. Additionally some spiced custard, pine cones and hibiscus. Somewhat lots occurring and globally it is clear, punchy, very vibrant whisky. In time although I believe the oak does begin to grow to be only a notch too loud. With water: creamier, fruitier and extra balanced now. Extra of those unique tea touches, fir wooden, eucalyptus – slightly advanced actually. End: good size, creamy vanilla, wooden spices, dried coconut as soon as once more, muesli with dried unique fruit chunks by it and a few inexperienced apple. Feedback: a wonderful choice and I can see why they’d select such a cask. It is a whisky that could be very a lot concerning the cask, nevertheless it was additionally clearly a high quality bourbon cask. That is the type of type that I believe fits Tomintoul nicely because the lightness of the distillate bends very nicely to this type of clear but lively wooden profile. Now, there are components that grow to be a bit too intense for me, nevertheless it’s nonetheless going to be…
SGP: 651 – 87 factors.