Tomatin 1967 45 YO Directors' Cut

Tomatin 1967 45 YO Directors' Cut, 51,6 %

Tomatin 1967 45 YO Directors' Cut

A very rare and old whisky is up for review today. Independent bottler Douglas Laing released this Tomatin 1967 45 YO Directors' Cut in early 2013. It is a single cask release, having been matured in a refill sherry butt (cask #9315). The outturn was a mere 175 bottles, which means this was either a cask where the angels had been quite greedy, or this is a partial cask. It was distilled in November 1967 and bottled in December 2012.

When released it sold at around GBP 200, but you will have to pay a fair bit more if you want to purchase a bottle these days.

Nose: Fresh and lively on the nose. This strikes me immediately as a summer dram. Now let's dive in, for a more thorough sniff. A touch of oak - you can tell this whisky has been kept captive in a cask for several decades. Caramel sauce, lemon zest, sherry and caramel pudding. I actually find a touch of dry rubbed meat here - ready for the grill.

Taste: Very smooth mouthfeel, quite creamy - almost buttery. Spicy with a touch of oaky bitterness. White pepper, ginger, malt, and dark berries. Hints of sherry.

Finish: Long finish. Not so much spicy now, the spices form a solid base if you will. The top notes are now more sugary and fruity. Think candied apples, and simple syrup. The creaminess is there till the end.

Comments: Lovely dram! I especially like the rich and creamy palate. Surprisingly light for its age.

Score (90/100)

Thanks for the sample, Kjell!

Image from Master of Malt.

Sláinte! - Thomas