Tomatin 2004 for Usquebaugh Society

This Tomatin 2004 was selected by over 40 members of the Usquebaugh Society in The Netherlands, in a tasting guided by Scott Adamson. It was matured in a refill bourbon cask for 7 years and then transferred to first-fill bourbon barrel #35281 for a 4 years finishing period.

In a way the recipe reminds me of Tomatin Legacy but the other way round.

Tomatin 11 yo 2004 (60%, OB for The Usquebaugh Society 2016, first-fill bourbon barrel #35281, 251 btl.)

Nose: aromatic, in a rather typical way for new oak. Green banana, vanilla, with whiffs of newly cut grass and fresh herbs. Sour apples and sweet lemons. Hints of rhubarb and marshmallows. Not too much of the obvious pencil shavings. Kind of a bourbon cask on steroids, certainly at full strength. Totally above the Legacy in any case.

Mouth: quite fruity again (pineapple, peaches, apples). Then some raw pepper and a slightly bitter woodiness. I believe a little water would help. A few drops… indeed, creamier, fruitier, with a slightly waxy edge.

Finish: medium long, the grassy side returns alongside the vanilla and candy sugar.

Fresh, slightly predictable but high quality stuff and fun (almost obligatory) to play around with water in an attempt to find a better balance. Around € 70 – good value but I’m not sure there are bottles available to outsiders.

Score: 86/100