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Tomatin Decades

A Wrinkle in Time

0 788

RReview by @Rigmorole

6th Jun 2013

0

Tomatin Decades
  • Nose
    ~
  • Taste
    ~
  • Finish
    ~
  • Balance
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  • Overall
    88

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Nose: Butter brickle; vanilla bean, guava, tundra flowers; pine resin.

Palette: Thin mouthfeel that is less than satisfying; red apples; toffee; caramel nougat; rice krispy treats; vanilla, oak.

Finish: Medium length; cinnamon; lukewarm 2% milk; cane sugar; alcohol finally comes through.

Don't spend over $80 (American) on this bottle. It's not worth any more judging by the one I have. I paid as much in Oregon as I would have paid for a bottle of Glenfarclas 21 or a few more bucks for the 25 (Decades is priced between the two in Oregon). Oh, how I wish I'd bought either of the Farcs. They're miles above this one.

In theory, Decades should be wonderful judging by the alleged care put into mixing such intriguing casks from bygone years. For me, the stuff is thin and unsatisfying for the price tag and the alleged age of the whisky involved in some of the casks.

Oh well. Can't say I didn't give it a shot. My wallet suffered for the effort, and some trust in glowing reviews that were, well, over the top. Listen to the critical reviews out there before you put all of your eggs in the glowing reviews basket.

This dram is certainly not bad. But it's far from spectacular. I really like the concept of its creation; the end result just doesn't deliver in my estimation.

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7 comments

@Onibubba
Onibubba commented

This was at the top of my list for "whiskies I must find" during a recent trip to Orange County CA. No luck. Reading your review makes me happy that I missed it ;)

May your next bottle be a magnificent one.

11 years ago 0

R
Rigmorole commented

This one needs a lot of time in the glass to open up. It's worth the wait.

11 years ago 0

@systemdown
systemdown commented

This could improve substantially given a month or two to breathe, let us know how you get on. Thanks for the review.

11 years ago 0

@sengjc
sengjc commented

Nice review!

I managed to get a bottle for collection purposes. Like you, I was attracted to its creation. Just wondering if the Tomatin 30 YO is any good.

11 years ago 0

R
Rigmorole commented

My bottle of T. Decades is deepening and noticeably improving with time. I've never tasted any as old as the 30. It could be quite good. Try to taste a sample before you lay down the cash-eesh.

11 years ago 0

R
Rigmorole commented

I've been enjoying the bottle, which is now about half empty. Thinking back, I think Ralfy might have been particularly impressed with the offering because it essentially fulfills his prediction for Tomatin and Tomentoul--which was that they would both offer more craft presentations in the future. I think Ralfy was "rooting" for Tomatin to come round an embrace a more craft presentation, such as this one.

Be this as it may, Decades should have had a higher ABV. 46% falls short of "craft" for me. With more alcohol from the cask, the flavor would have really jumped out even more.

11 years ago 1Who liked this?

@MaltActivist
MaltActivist commented

Your flavor profiles make the whisky sound delicious and mouth-watering. Yet you seem disappointed. Is it largely to do with the mouth feel or the fact that the flavors are generally out of sync with each other.

My colleagues think I'm far too generous with my ratings - I should have them see yours :-)

Excellent review once again!

11 years ago 0