Tomatin 12 Years Old 2003 Distillery Exclusive (57.7%, OB, Sherry Cask #2036, 2015)

• Highland single malt scotch whisky
• 57.7% ABV, £85 for 70cl
• Score:  82/100

What they say:

Distilled in 2002 at the Tomatin distillery, this bottle-your-own expression is exclusively available at the Tomatin distillery visitor centre. Matured for 12 years in an ex-Sherry cask #2036.

What I say:

Sampled in 2014 when this was 12 years old and only a 2 bottles remained for sale at the distillery as this cask was empty / soon to be replaced.

Colour:

Amber rose gold (12/20), medium/heavy tears

Nose:

Spicy, sweet, red fruits, figs, mixed peel, fruit cake, rum toft, zesty orange, tangerine, apricot, nutmeg, barley flour/grist, flaked toasted almonds, tropical pineapple and banana, shoe leather

Taste:

Spiced mixed peel, rum  or brandy soaked raisins, cinnamon and chilli pepper spices, orange barley sugar sweeties, almond oil and hints of aniseed?

Finish:

Medium, hot/warming, sweet & sour, pineapple fruit and tannins

Overall:

During the WOLS Highland trip 2014 we stopped off at the Tomatin distillery for a tasting (as we didn’t have time to complete the full tour). During the tasting we sampled both of the distillery exclusive bottle-your-own expressions. This slightly older sherry cask-matured example was favoured slightly less than the Bourbon Cask (#1903) bottle-your-own expression.