Another sample that I got as a mystery sample. Buddy MZ wanted to know my thoughts. I’m happy to oblige. MZ and I met for the first time at my home when I put an open invitation on our club’s website for a bottom’s up night. He came over from The Hague and we had a lot of fun on a rather crazy night. Crazy as in, there was way too much booze and even though it was a Bottoms Up, we barely ended any bottles since there were so many.

Since then we kept running into each other at club events, festivals and Maltstock. A little while ago I went over to his place for a couple of drams. We talked shop and had some great, great whisky. There are more reviews to follow.

Tomintoul is a bit of a blind spot for me. There is not too much out there from this distillery and it’s not one of those distilleries that you follow. At least I don’t. With quite a lot of distilleries.

Image from Whiskybase

Sniff:
Lots and lots of sherry on the nose, with some oak and a light bitterness. After those blast of sherry you really have to look for other flavors. I get some chocolate, pastry and coffee.

Sip:
The palate is gentle but dry. Lots of sweet sherry, chocolate, mocha, coffee and a bit of candied fruit.

Swallow:
The finish is dry with, as you expect, a lot of sherry. Very rich, but the sherry overpowers everything else. It’s long and has a very light spiciness.

I think this whisky has WAY too much sherry. It must have been one active cask which this has been in for over three decades. A bit of a shame, actually, but I can’t really say less active wood would have helped since I can’t really taste the whisky.

It’s really hard to say anything else about this whisky. Sherry sherry sherry, and a tad of other flavors, but almost only sherry. Bummer.

Tomintoul 1967-2000, 33 years old, 40%, 1st fill sherry butt, Gordon & MacPhail Rare Old. Available in some shops for € 550.