Tomatin Contrast

Last summer Tomatin launched a limited release of 5.400 sets of 2 different vattings: bourbon and sherry. The half bottles are composed from casks from 1973, 1977, 1988, 1991, 2002 and 2006. That way, we can discover the difference of wood maturations in all its glory.

The Tomatin bourbon is light and accessible on the nose, with touches of tropical fruit. Think gooseberry, pineapple and some eucalyptus. Quite some banana. Nothing earth shattering, but textbook Tomatin. The Tomatin sherry, however, is more timid and somewhat dirty. I get some toffee, brown sugar and rum raisins, but also some earthy notes and something that reminds me of yoghurt. The Tomatin sherry is my preferred one. 0-1 for the sherry, although both are very good.

The Tomatin bourbon is softly spiced, but does enjoy a nice complexity of creamy vanilla, white fruit and spices. Loads of oak, it has to be said. The banana is very present on the palate. The Tomatin sherry lacks the creaminess of the bourbon, but makes up for that with a huge spiciness. Plums and raisins are supported by some woodsmoke and loads of spices. Think pepper, nutmeg and cloves. However, I did prefer the bouron, which makes it a tie: 1-1.

The finish on the Tomatin bourbon is medium long and mildly drying, but lovely warm. The finish of the Tomatin sherry is long and warm, but with a bitter edge towards the end, which I did not expect, knowing that it was all first fill oloroso sherry casks. 2-1 for the bourbon release.

I really quite like the bourbon version, which suits Tomatin well, but they are very close. Of course, it is not a match. Both whisky’s perform considerably well. A set will cost 140 EUR. Thanks, Sjoerd, for the samples.

85/100 for the Tomatin bourbon 84/100 for the Tomatin sherry

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