Three barrels were blended together. If Cadenhead decided to release some 11 yo Tomintoul, there must be a reason; let’s try to find it… Colour: white wine. Nose: understood. Brioche, toasted cakes, sponge cake, lemon jelly, amaretti, peppermint, pine smoke, tobacco smoke. With water: some damp chalk or clay or plaster or fresh concrete. Mouth (neat): yeah, better have them fresh and vibrant. Earthy lemons, some kind of spicy fudge, a wee drop of tequila, perhaps a touch of celeriac and other earthy roots… With water: peppers and rooty herbal liqueurs. Some agave syrup in the background. Finish: medium, rather spicy. Limoncello and Ginger liqueur. A touch of green oak and Swiss cheese (!) in the aftertaste. Comments: not too sure about what came from the spirit and what came from the wood, but the whole worked out just fine. CAD should have a ‘Smart Batch’ series. This wee Tomintoul would have made for a proper member, even if it’s a tad loco at time.

Whiskyfun.com - Serge

Nose – Fresh, vibrant, mineral – cold lemon peel and hand soap. A little bit of crushed boiled sweet (sweet wax), quite floral. This would work (nose wise anyway) over a big chunk of ice.

Body – Lemon ice lollies then, a little lemon cream and royal icing. Very clean.

Finish – Long and zesty (funnily enough), sharp spirit and a gentle cask.

Score: A

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