This 1988 Vintage is the third release in a series of expressions from that year. It’s been aged for 27 years, and includes a parcel of whisky that has been matured in first-fill Tawny port casks. It’s the first 1988 vintage to be bottled in the new Tomatin livery and updated glassware.
Nose: Delicate and subtle and requiring a little resting in the glass. Once relaxed, this delivers apple turnovers, honey, orange peels and fresh cherries alongside earthy wood, polish, tanned leather and dusty books. As with many of Tomatin expressions its quite malty – this one has some underlying herbalness too – rather mossy.
Taste: Viscous and chewy. Aged notes come straight away with polish, leather and smoked golden tobacco. These are supported by orchard fruits and berries – raspberries in particularly. Honey and butterscotch provide both body and sweetness and gentle pepper and cinnamon deliver some vibrant but sympathetic spicing.
Finish: Long with dusty oak and fresh red berries.
Tomatin 1988 27 year old needs some time to truly come to life. But, it’s worth it – delicious aged notes marry excellently with the underlying distillery character and make for fairly luxuriant whisky with a seriously good palate. The Tawny port influence is subtle here and therefore add vibrancy and sweetness without ever outstaying its welcome. Seriously tasty stuff.