The Highland distillery of Tomatin has expanded its global travel retail range with the release of their 13 Years Old Double Cask single malt whisky. It has been matured in a classic combination of ex-bourbon barrels and ex-Oloroso sherry casks.
Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands, about half way between Aviemore and Inverness. It was founded in 1897 by a group of Inverness businessmen and was originally named Tomatin Spey. It then became Tomatin, the name of the local village, in 1907. Tomatin is currently owned by the Takara Shuzo Corporation, who purchased the distillery in 1986 after the previous ownership had been liquidated. It has a current annual capacity of five million litres. The distillery produces unpeated Tomatin whisky alongside the peated Cù Bòcan range.
Tomatin Double Cask 13 Years Old will replace the distillery’s existing Tomatin 12 Years Old in global travel retail. It will sit within the distiller’s existing global travel retail range, which includes an 8 Years Old matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, a 16 Years Old aged in Portuguese Moscatel wine barriques, a 21 Years Old matured exclusively in first-fill ex-bourbon casks, and their 45 Years Old aged in ex-Oloroso sherry casks.
Tomatin 13 Years Old Double Cask is bottled at 43% ABV. It will be available from April 2025 in major UK and international airports, including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Istanbul, as well as select travel retail outlets worldwide. Priced at £54.95 RRP for a one-litre bottle.
Our Tasting Notes
Golden in colour this whisky is buttery and fruity on the nose. The initial impression reminds us of opening a tin of all-butter shortbread. This consists of plentiful notes of butter, soft fudge sweetness, and yeast. There is also hints of cinnamon plus some salinity just like the hint of salt flakes in shortbread. On the fruity side, we found baked apple, dried apricot, tinned peach, and poached pear. The nose is uplifting but soft and gentle. There is a lovely balance which is enticing.
On the soft and creamy palate comes sweetness with an underlying malt and spice. The yeasty creaminess that was present on the nose comes to life on the palate. However, it becomes even bolder and reminds us of oatmeal cookies with vanilla and plenty of buttery baked oats. There is also flavours of apple pie with buttery pastry, brown sugar, warming cinnamon spice, and piles of baked apple. Finally there is a dash of milk chocolate and soft toffee.
The finish is a moderate but completely decent length with gentle sweetness. The sweet gently fruity apple-like quality fades slowly, as does the overall sweetness. It becomes more herbal, in the form of bay leaf. More spicy in the form of mace or nutmeg. And develops a peppery hint towards the end. It has a drying finish with oak and tannin evolving to round off the experience.
What’s The Verdict?
This travel retail exclusive whisky feels very classic in style to us. It is superbly balanced, juicy yet approachable and welcoming. There is just enough spice and oakiness to match the fruit and sweetness. The price point is very reasonable for a 13 -years-old. The classic elegant style of whisky held in the one-litre bottle would make us go back for more after each glass so well worth buying in the larger size. It is a Spring-like whisky and perfect for the coming warmer months.
