Tomatin 15 yo Moscatel finish

A few months back Tomatin have announced the release of its new limited edition Moscatel finished whisky.  The expression, which was distilled in 2003, was aged 15 years and has a limited run of just over 6,000 bottles available worldwide.

The whisky has been finished in first fill Portuguese Moscatel wine barriques for a period of five years, with the maturation imparting flavors of toasted almonds and oranges, sun-dried raisins and figs, creating a sweet and creamy finish.

This isn’t the first time Tomatin have experimented with unusual cask maturation. Fans of the distillery will remember, for example, the limited edition 14 year old Cabernet Sauvignon and 9 year old Caribbean Rum expressions, which proved popular in 2016.

Moscatel releases are relatively rare and tend to be limited as the casks aren’t widely available like sherry casks for example…

Moscatel wine, made from the muscat grape variety, delivers pronounced fruity notes, whilst also featuring an intense aromatic nose. The Portuguese wine characteristically has aromas of jasmine, orange blossom and honey suckle, with addition of citric notes of lime and grapefruit and other hints of sweetness.

The limited edition Moscatel expression is available from specialist retailers at a cost of RRP £75 at 46% abv.

Tomatin 15 Year Old Moscatel Cask Finish , 46% , £74.95

Nose: A very nice nose with sweet vanilla, and a load of fruit as well : ripe orange, a hint of sultana and fig and some grapefruit as well, sweet blossom, wee touch of honey, then wood and lemon drops which create a nice sweet-citrus balance, bright and fresh.
Palate:  The palate is rich and sweet with some wine tannins, and lots of fruit influence: mandarin, peach, fig and a creamy vanilla as well, some old school boiled sweets, toasted wood, and maybe even some fruit leather, finishing on red grapefruit. Lovely stuff, and richer than the nose.
Finish: fruit flavored candy, wood, hint of chocolate.
Very nice stuff, with a lovely touch from the Moscatel, the fruit adds such a nice dimension to the Tomatin spirit and the balance is good, not too much influence, yet it’s there. Tomatin fans who enjoy a wee wine finish, would enjoy this one, quite a bit.

Score: 87/100

Available at MOM for £74.95

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