Whisky Review/Tasting: Tomintoul 15 Years Port Wood Finish

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: The whisky is from Tomintoul Distillery.
Type: It is a Scotch whisky with a Port Wood finish.
Distillation and Maturation Process: The whisky has been aged for 15 years, with the concluding months of maturation in port pipes. The exact duration of the port wood finishing is not specified, but it is implied to be shorter than the 15 months used for a previous 12-year-old version.
Age Statement: 15 years.
Color and Clarity: Described as rose gold, though the reviewer perceives it as amber, indicating a darker shade than gold.
Bottle Design: The bottle is noted for its heavy weight and thick glass bottom, suggesting quality and suitability as a gift.

Balance of Flavors: The whisky presents a harmonious blend of summer fruits, toffee sweetness, and cigar box spiciness, with no alcohol sharpness despite its 46% ABV.
Unique Characteristics: Notable for its fruity port sweetness and spicy oak notes, with a full and rich finish that includes lingering herbal spices and toffee sweetness. The port wood finish imparts a light rose tone and flavors of strawberry, blackberry, and black currant, combined with caramel sweetness.
Comparison: The 15-year-old version is smoother and less oaky than the previously reviewed 12-year-old version, with a medium gentle finishing that avoids bitterness and tannins.

Limited Edition: This release is a limited edition, with only 5,820 bottles produced, emphasizing its exclusivity.
Personal Preference: The reviewer, Horst Luening, expresses a personal preference for port cask finishes over sherry and Madeira, highlighting his fondness for the flavor profile imparted by port wood.

Distillery Reputation: Tomintoul is referred to as "the gentle dram" due to its careful distillation process, although it also produces smokier expressions like the Peaty Tang and the old Ballantron.

"Madeira, Madeira, Madeira is so much better than beer." - A playful expression of the reviewer's preference for Madeira wine over beer.
"This is a whiskey I call whiskey." - Emphasizing the quality and completeness of the Tomintoul 15 Years Port Wood Finish.

Tomintoul 15 Years Port Wood Finish is a limited edition Scotch whisky with a port wood finish.
It features a balanced flavor profile of summer fruits, toffee sweetness, and cigar box spiciness, with a notable absence of alcohol sharpness.
The whisky is described as smoother and less oaky than its 12-year-old predecessor, with a medium gentle finishing that avoids bitterness.
It is a limited edition with 5,820 bottles, making it an exclusive offering.
The reviewer, Horst Luening, expresses a personal preference for port cask finishes and highlights the quality of the bottle design.
Tomintoul is known as "the gentle dram," although it also produces smokier expressions.

For Whisky Enthusiasts: Those with a preference for port cask finishes and a taste for rich, fruity, and spicy whiskies will find the Tomintoul 15 Years Port Wood Finish particularly appealing.
For Collectors: The limited edition nature of this whisky, with only 5,820 bottles available, makes it an attractive addition to any collection.
For Gift Givers: The quality bottle design and the whisky's exclusivity make it an excellent gift for whisky lovers and special occasions.