Origin: Highlands (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Shochu and virgin
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Takara Shuzo Corp.
Average price: € 60.00
Official website: www.tomatin.com
Vote: 85/100
The second version of Tomatin’s experimental malt, in the revamped 2019 edition, this number two sees a peculiar double maturation between virgin European casks and others that have contained a Japanese distillate, Shochu, produced from different raw materials such as rice, bear, sweet potato, wheat and others. It’s a low-proof distillate, very popular in its homeland, generally aged for very short periods, sometimes up to three years, hence the casks used for this whisky.
Like the number 1 we tried on these pages, it’s not simply a peated version of the classic Tomatin malt, as the production process (carried out in the last two weeks of December) is quite different: faster condensation due to winter temperatures, two fermentation times (110 and 52 hours, then combined in the stills), larger cuts in distillation.
Tasting notes
A sensation of fresh sweetness envelops the nostrils, combining fruit (peach, apple, apricot) with tropical touches (coconut, mango) with malt, vanilla, nuts (walnuts, almonds) and a vein of freshly cut wood. At length, a note of leavened bread appears. A thin thread of vegetable smoke embraces the aromas. Inviting.
Initial spicy thrust on the palate, with ginger and white pepper paving the way for a discreet creaminess in which a good dose of lemon juice emerges over apple, peach, wet cereal, vanilla, sawdust, nuts. The smoke remains in the background but well present, a delicate accent on the flavours, highlighting the vegetal and earthy aspect of the whisky.
Quite long finish of nuts, malt, fruit, balsamic herbal notes and gentle smoke.
A very pleasant and well-balanced dram, under the banner of a delicate freshness in which even the smoke matches the evocations really well. Clean, linear, almost aperitif-like.