This Tomatin 1988 is more or less a private bottling. Frank Leyens of Vinothek Massen and several friends and colleagues living in the (wide) Eifel area decided to share this cask. The remaining part was passed on to a nearby whisky club.
Tomatin 24 yo 1988
(48,7%, Eifelboys & Vinothek Massen 2013, first fill bourbon cask, 70 btl.)
Tomatin 24 yo 1988Nose: quite a full-bodied nose, sweet and fruity. Lots of stewed apples and apricot jam. Hints of vanilla ice cream with fragrant blueberries and hints of Parma violets. Also hay and leafy notes, evolving into soft herbal notes and heather.
Mouth: slightly grassier right away now. Ginger, nutmeg and pepper, some toasted notes and chamomile tea. Fruity notes are still there, oranges, soft kiwi and fruitcake. I also found a hint of fragrant eucalyptus oils and floral notes, which was slightly disturbing. Ends nicely on some vanilla cream with caramel topping.
Finish: quite long, half fruity, half spicy.
An honest Tomatin. High quality no doubt, even though it’s not the most straightforward example I’ve come across. Not for sale. Thanks, Pieter.
Score: 87/100