Tomatin 1999 Norway Tomatin Trilogy - Bourbon Cask Edition
Tomatin 1999 Norway Tomatin Trilogy - Bourbon Cask Edition, 14 YO, 55,2 %
This whisky is the first release in what is hoped to be a trilogy of Tomatin single cask releases exclusively bottled for Norway.
The Tomatin 1999 Norway Tomatin Trilogy - Bourbon Cask Edition was matured in a 1st fill bourbon cask (cask #34150), distilled in 1999 and bottled on October 22, 2014. The total outturn was 252 bottles.
Tomatin has released a single cask for Norway once before, for the 10th anniversary of the Oslo Whisky Festival.
In the Autumn of 2014, Cask Norway (the importer of Tomatin) arranged a tasting where six cask samples where presented to a group of bloggers, whisky enthusiasts and people working at some of Oslo's whisky bars. Three samples where matured in 1st fill bourbon casks and three in 2nd fill bourbon casks. 1st fill bourbon can have a sublime effect on a maturing whisky, and as such it was probably not much of a surprise that these three samples came out favorites after the tasting.
The two remaining releases in this trilogy are thought to be a sherry cask matured whisky and finally an old and exclusive release.
The Tomatin 1999 Norway Tomatin Trilogy - Bourbon Cask Edition is still available to buy in Norway at NOK 1100 (item number 1975001).
Nose (22/25): Light. Vanilla, soft wooden notes, sawdust, marshmallows, white pepper, and a hint of red berries.
Taste (22/25): To taste it is quite a mouthful (pardon my pun, it was very much intended). Lots of pepper (white and black), banana, vanilla, and fresh licorice. With water it gets a more soft and smooth mouthfeel, and earns an extra point.
Finish (21/25): Soft oaky noes, and lots of fresh, sweet licorice. I am left with the exact same taste as when I've had the hard candy Turkish Pepper (a product from Fazer). But again, it got more mellow with water and stayed long for such a young whisky.
Balance (22/25): This feels very well-balanced and fresh, especially with water.
Score (88/100)
Sláinte! - Tobias