“An Affordable Summer Malt”
Country: Scotland
Region: Northern Highlands
Brand: Tomatin Legacy
Type: Single Malt
Age: NAS
ABV: 43%
Colour: Pale Gold
Nose: Light like a Summer Breeze! This is quite clearly a relatively Young Single Malt. Fruity New Make Spirit on a bed of Pine Needles and light Oak. I find light notes of Lemon Cake, Butterscotch, Buttered Toast, Pencil Shavings, Grass, Tropical Fruit Cocktail, Canned Pineapple, Banana Ice Cream, Vanilla, Malt, Milk Chocolate, Nuts, light Citrus, Floral - and Vegetable Tones and Mint Flavoured Tea. These are mostly subtle Notes though. The Alcohol is not fully integrated and that's a pity. Otherwise it's reasonably Well-Balanced.
Taste: Light and Sweet with Sweet Barley, Pine Needles, Grass, Sweet Honey Candies, Toffee, Fruit Cake with added Cream, Vanilla, White Chocolate, Oak, Lemon, Nuts, Cinnamon and Pepper.
Finish: Middle-Long, Mostly Sweet and Buttery with Sweet Barley, Apple-Pie, Ginger Bread, Dairy, Lemon, Salted Nuts, Pepper and Cinnamon. A bit Dry in the end with a light Metallic Off-Note.
I added a few drops of Water and on the Nose you get extra Barley, Dairy, Fruit and Toffee. Palate and Finish become too Thin. However, it's nice to Nose it with a bit of Added Water!
Rating: 82.5
Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 20.5
General Remarks: The Tomatin Distillery was founded in 1897 and is located close to the A9 Motorway, halfway between Aviemore and Inverness. Over the years it grew very fast and today it has one the largest production capacities in the industry, although the distillery is currently not producing at full capacity. It is owned by the Japanese Takara Shuzo and Okura Group. A large part of the production (80%) goes into blends like Antiquary and Talisman. Lately the distillery is making an effort to promote its Single Malts. The Tomatin Legacy is a new NAS Entry Level that was launched in 2013. It matured in a mix of Ex-Maker's Mark Bourbon Barrels and Virgin Oak Casks. It costs on average 30 US Dollars.
Drinking Experience Neat: Good
Conclusion: Light, Fruity and Uncomplicated Summer Dram. Might do quite well over a little Ice. Great Value for Money as well if you can find it at around 30 US Dollars. The Nose is Light and Sweet with lots of Tropical Fruit. Like Brazilian New Make Spirit! If that would be produced over here of course which it ain't! A touch too Light on the Palate. Here a bit of extra Wood Contact would have helped. In the Finish there's this light Metallic Off-Note that probably should not have been there. But if you like the Flavour Profile and like Young, Light and Fruity Whisky you can't go wrong with the Tomatin Legacy at this price level.
Jan van den Ende December 26, 2014
