Tomintoul honours the “gentle dram” reputation
Is there any whisky producer out there that would describe their own whisky as modest? For the summertime, I was in the mood for a single malt that did not ask too much of me, and also fitted the weather. We had our share of heatwaves, did we not? The Tomintoul flagship bottle seemed an obvious choice, and certainly did not disappoint me, however modest it is. What speaks for Tomintoul is that the distillery (owned by Angus Dundee Distillers) offers a lot of variation on their range, even a peated Old Ballantruan. It is also a distillery truly located in the Glen of Livet, a fact that is proudly presented on the label, next to “Speyside”. These names and locations give you an idea of what to expect. A gentle dram!
Tomintoul 10 years old, bottled at 40 % abv
First things first: Matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels.
Upon Sipping: The nose carries the classic examples of orchard fruits, mostly apples, but dig hard enough and you will also find some pear. You could almost imagine that this Tomintoul saw the insides of a Calvados cask. The vanilla influence is so strong, it almost plays as a template on which other elements can shine. Some lemons, some green grapes. A very pleasant predinner dram. On the palate is where the modesty is a bit too stretched out. Here, the Tomintoul lacks some character that you could find in a Glenfiddich 12 years old, to name such a classic standard-bearer. An overall hint of cardboard gets in the way of some oaky pleasures and vanilla pods. Mid-palate, I do pick up a nice lemon note that makes this a refreshing summer dram indeed. The exit displays too much oak tannins. This expression could do with maybe a few sherry casks in the mix, to create more balance and diversity.
Word to the Wise: A very fine and gentle dram, but put it in your tumbler, maybe even over ice. All in all, this is an outstanding summer dram for sticky long nights in your garden.
Score: 75 points.