First comes the Tomatin 12 year old. This one is a nice sweet scotch, with a nose of fruits. Not getting the fruit smell? Then add some more water and it really brings it out. They say there's a malty smell and maybe it is, maybe it's more like oak. I kind of feel Malt is a stronger Oak smell. The palette continues with the fruity tastes and perhaps some caramel. The package speaks of stewed apples and nuttiness. We found it more sweet fruits and caramel. Impressive and delicious. Hadn't tasted Tomatin before but I think the future will see more than just a sample in the mix. I'll need to directly compare this to Glenlivet. They are similar and I think Tomatin may win out as a superior scotch. But we'll have to wait and see.
The 15 year old is similar in taste, but with a few key differences. Gone is the malt/oak of the nose. I find the fruitiness stronger with a hint of the Vanilla they speak of. The package speaks of fruit cake, which I guess I just view as more fruit, rather than any cakeness. The malty oak taste comes in on the palate with a gentle sweetness. The finish is nice and long. A very smooth experience. Probably better than the 12 year old, and since the two only differ in price (for a full bottle) about $20, maybe quite worth it, when you want to spend an extra $20 to get a better scotch.
The 18 year old is good. The fruit is stronger in the nose and more delicious, a slight hint of vanilla and the taste of a maple syrup in smell (which is weird because it smells like maple syrup would taste, not how maple syrup smells). Dry oak and a bit of sweet in the palette, but a nice building wave in the finish with the first gulp, the dry oak intensifies as the gentle hint of sweet settles in. Delicious for sure,
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