Tomintoul – Three of the Best
Last Thursday 18th March Nicola and I got to do a virtual tasting hosted by Iain Forteath, Global Brand Ambassador for Angus Dundee Distillers the owners of this fine Speyside Distillery.
We duly received our three samples in plenty of time for that evening’s tasting.
Tomintoul is a relatively new kid on the block, founded in 1965, located near the village Tomintoul. In the heart of Speyside in the Glenlivet Estate lies Tomintoul Distillery.
The style of this Speyside Whisky is Quite delicate, often grassy, with hints of perfume and floral notes.
All of the three bottlings we tasted were all chill filtered and had caramel colouring added.
Let’s start with dram number one.
Tomintoul 10 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% Alc/vol 70 cl
This bottling was matured in 1st and 2nd Bourbon casks.
On the nose I got grassy and cereal notes, ripe peaches and a little delicate spice.
My palate experienced fudge, crushed barley, pineapple cheesecake, spiced oak.
The finish was lively, wine gums and a very slight suggestion of smoke.
Price at around £30.95, this is an ideal entry level sweety Speyside Whisky, easy on the palate and easy on the wallet/purse.
Up second is:-
Tomintoul 16 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% Alc/vol 70 cl
This bottling was matured in 1st fill and refill Bourbon casks.
On my nose I got orange cream icing, freshly sawn oak and delicate spice.
My palate enjoyed zesty citrus peel, it is a little more spicy than the 10 year old, a floral waft of passing a florist, very rounded and complex.
Priced at around £41.95 I think this is not only a better buy but a more complex and rewarding dram than the 10 year old.
Finally we have:-
Tomintoul 21 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% Alc/vol 70 cl
This bottling was matured in refill bourbon hogsheads. (no 1st fill casks were used)
My nose was met by melons and pears, barley sugar, comforting spices.
On my palate it was rich and spicy, creamy toffee, malt.
Long, sweet and spicy finish.
This one is priced at £115.00. This is almost three times the price of the 16 year old. Like most of the participants on this virtual tasting, I preferred the 16 year old. The economics is for £115.00 I can get almost three bottles of the 16 year old Tomintoul instead of 1 bottle of 21 Year Old.
Grand tasting Iain with plenty of insight in the Tomintoul Distillery and it’s surrounding area.
Looking forward to the lockdown being over and a visit to Tomintoul is very high on The Whisky Boys list.
