Tomintoul Tweet Tasting #Tom1981

Yesterday, I got invited to a fantastic Tweet Tasting organized by Tomintoul and directed by Robert Fleming, master distiller for Tomintoul.

The tasting was to introduce their 21 years old whisky and a new single cask expression released recently: 1981. As I have tasted so little of this distillery I thought it was a fantastic chance of increasing my knowledge on the gentle single malt whisky. So two days ago I received a small parcel with no external annotations and voila!

So I just obeyed the instructions and “YOU MUST NOT RESIST THE URGE TO DRINK THEM”… well, ok, the tasting was supposed to be May, 29 but… what the hell! :) An order is an order :)

Just kidding, of lately I really lack of time so I just unwrapped them 10 minutes before the tasting and poured them. So, the whiskies….

We started with Tomintoul 21 years old

Tomintoul 21 years old

“Fantastic subtle sherry character. It is there but it doesn't dominate the dram. Good whisky”

91

70cl / 40% / Distillery Bottling - This 21yo Tomintoul boasts a floral, fruity, spicy character and was introduced in summer 2011 following the demise of 27yo. As with its illustrious predecessor, this will gladden the hearts of fans of mature easy-drinking Speyside whiskies that don't cost the earth.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. honey, pears, spices, wood, vanilla, cinnamon.

Palate (91): powerful, oily. honey, wood, nuts, vanilla, spices, chocolate. Lovely sherry character.

Finish (91): longer than average. honey, wood, spices.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Tomintoul 21 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky with 91 points over 100.

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) – Vintage Single Cask

“A great dram. Gentle ( not kidding!), subtle but still appealing and delicious.”

91

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (91): more than average. honey, floral, wood, spices, vanilla, citrus.

Palate (91): powerful, oily. honey, floral, spices, vanilla, pepper, candies, liquorice, wood.

Finish (90): longer than average. honey, citrus, spices.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask with 91 points over 100.

Miguel says…

It is truly gentle whisky… nothing really stands over in these both great whiskies ( but a bit of wood notes ). Both of them are great, but if I have to choose one ( or buy it ) I would get the Tomintoul 21 years old because although it is not bottled at cask stregth like the 1981 Vintage, it is a tremendous bang for the buck dram.

A lot of thanks to Tomintoul for this chance of tasting part of their range of whisky.

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