Tomatin 35 Years Old 1978 Small Batch (44.1%, Cadenheads, Small Batch, Bourbon HHs, 594 Bottles, 2013)

• 44.1% ABV
• £160 for 70cl
• Score: 85/100

What they say:

Nose
Rhubarb, butterscotch and aniseed. Barley sugar and bubblegum
Palate
Strawberry tarts, banana sweets, chocolate covered raisins and icing sugar. A rather pleasing rich middle palate.
Finish
The finish mimics the taste and lasts for a very long time, leaving you wanting and demanding more.
Availability
Highland
Region
North Highland

What I say:

Turns out this is the Tomatin 35 Years Old Cadenhead Small Batch, bottled at cask strength of 44.1% ABV, costing £160/bottle, Distilled in 1978, matured in bourbon hogsheads and bottled in 2013 for a 594 bottle outturn

Colour:

Gold amber

Nose:

Sweet, slightly estery, pear drops, oak wood

Taste:

Sweet, vanilla, treacle toffee-ish, oaky wood, bitter, like a charred cask matured whisky

Finish:

Long and warming more oaky wood

Overall:

Not too complex this tasted like an un-peated Islay malt or charred (alligator) cask speysider, there was distinctly a hint of something missing here, lots of oak and depth of flavour – but something missing.

Originally sampled at: Jolly Toper Tasting 10/04/2014 dubbed ‘The French Connection’