The ‘Gentle Dram’ in SMWS single cask form – only the 9th Society bottling from this distillery. This one has been matured in a 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel for 10 years. Spicy and Dry profile.
Nose: Very bakery with biscuits, breads and yeast. Deeper flavours of cocoa add to this and create something akin to doughnuts. Orange and lemon marmalade (with the bits left in of course) add some vibrant fruitiness and are joined by light cumin spice. Water brings out some naturally light nuttiness – walnuts – and reveals earthiness in the form of moist soils.
Taste: Relaxed, gentle and quite subtle. Juicy nectarines and grapefruits are joined by golden barley and hay. A small amount of dilution allows some of the cask influence to come through, offering light pepperiness.
Finish: Medium and getting a touch astringent with spiciness intensifying.
An interesting Tomintoul that brings some slightly unusual combinations of flavours together. Fairly simplistic, but effective all the same. I found the nose more successful than the palate – with is pleasant combination of fruits and bakery aromas.