Review #258: Tomatin 18

Highland - 18 - NCF - NCA - $80 - 46%

This is my first Tomatin malt.  About 80% of Tomatin gets blended but they are making an attempt to get an OB line up of single malts out there.  It is made a blend of "traditional casks and first fill OIoroso Sherry butts". In other words, a blend of ex-bourbon and sherry that we have come to expect from an 18 year core expression from just about anywhere.  

Color - Russet

Nose - Peaches, stewed apples, figs, lemon zest, chocolate, 
Palate - Fresh orchard fruit, chocolate, touch of citrus

Finish - Medium - Raisins, chocolate, treacle, lemon, and a tart note I am having trouble placing.  

Overall - 7 - Wow, that nose is just delightful.  Fun, balanced, and enough going to keep your attention.  The citrus and chocolate do a really good job evening out the fruit.  The rest of the dram drinks well.  It is as good as most run of the mill 18s out there.  Not overly distinctive, but damn well worth drinking.  I will probably pick up a bottle next time as a house bottle.

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.92

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16