Tasting Notes:

Nase: Er startet mit einer leicht künstlich, parfümierten Nase, was mich erst ein wenig verwundert, sich dann aber legt und den Weg frei macht für angenehme Zitrusnoten, Limetten und Äpfel, und auch ein hefeartiger Ton mischt sich unter. Dazu dann Blütenhonig, etwas Vanille und Puderzucker, was dann aber auch schon alles ist, ein wenig „wenig“ dafür, dass so alte Fässer in diese Abfüllung eingeflossen sind.

Mund: Recht intensiv und erstaunlich kraftvoll für die 46 %vol, viel Kokos, Vanille, mit kurzer süßer Spitze, dann aber schnell recht herb, floral, mit Kakao, Karamell und Kräutern. Das Mundgefühl erscheint mir irgendwie unausgewogen und ein wenig „harsh“, wie man im Englischen so schön sagt.

Abgang: Zwar mit einer gewissen Restsüße, aber mit Schwerpunkt auf herben und leicht bitteren Tönen.

Fazit: Auch wenn ich normalerweise bei Tomatin eher die Bourbonfass Reifungen bevorzuge, so hat mit dieser nicht ansatzweise so gut gefallen, wie die Sherryfass Variante. Dieser Malt erscheint mir deutlich unausgewogen und vor allem bei weitem nicht so komplex, wie ich es mir gewünscht hätte. Die jungen Fässer haben hier die Überhand und die alten gehen unter, bzw. waren eventuell ausgelaugt und schwach.

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Note by Serge Valentin from whiskyfun.com:

Tomatin 'Contrast Bourbon Matured' (46%, OB, 5,400 bottles, 2016)  Ha-ha! The labels smartly states the various vintages that have been used, that is to say 1973, 1977, 1988, 1991, 2002 and 2006. A genuine multi-vintage bottling, like J.M do in rhum agricole. I think that would be even better with the proportions, having said that, or we’d always ‘feel’ that there’s much more 2006 than 1973. Or that there are only drops of 1973. But anyway, lets taste it… Colour: straw. Nose: fresh and crystalline, with pears, oranges, and pineapples on a bed of cut grass and a moderate vanillaness. Gooseberries. Love this purity, very well done so far. Mouth: indeed. Rather apples than pears this time, some angelica, more gooseberries, peaches, touches of pineapples again, and just drops of lemon juice. Frankly, this tastes pretty young, but it’s rather immaculate. I cannot not think of some dry chenin blanc from the Loire Valley. Good body, perfect strength. Finish: medium, not exactly zesty, but pure and fresh. Same kinds of fruits, with a grassier signature. Comments: oh this is smart! It’s going to be a must when temperatures rise, in a few weeks.SGP:551 - 87 points.

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

Aroma: Golden syrup und Honig. Zitrone und Limone. Mandeln und Macadamia Nüsse, Vanille und Vanillecreme. Geschmack: Süße Vanillecreme und Zitronenbisquit. Ananasstücke, Himbeeren und Puderzucker. Im Nachklang süß, frisch und weich.

Sold as a set together with the Sherry matured for £100