Thoughts: This does feel like a step-up from the 16-year-old although they are very much cut from the same cloth. The 21-year-old has that little bit of depth that only comes from a lengthy period in oak. There’s a tannic note that runs through the whole experience. The nose in particular is pleasantly complex though the palate can’t quite live up to its promise. Water opened things up a little but some weight and mouthfeel was lost as a result. A pleasant if somewhat predictable example of a mature Speyside.

I find Tomintoul to be a bit of a strange brand. By Scotch whisky standards, it’s a relatively young distillery, having been established in 1964 but that still makes it almost fifty years old. Yet it seems rarely to be discussed or written about in any great detail. It makes my job that little bit harder when it comes to finding something interesting to talk about! The village was laid out on a grid pattern by Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon in 1775. It followed the construction, 20 years previously, of a military road by William Caulfeild– now the A939. The duke's motivation for his efforts was the hope that a permanent settlement would minimise cattle theft and illegal distilling of spirits in the area. [7] Estimates suggest that in the early 1700s there had been up to 200 illicit stills in the Livet glen, with spirits smuggled out over the Ladder hills. [8]Nothing in the Terms shall exclude or limit our liability for fraudulent misrepresentation or for death or personal injury resulting from gross negligence or willful misconduct by us. Tomintoul Golf Club (now defunct) was founded in 1897. The club and course disappeared at the time of World War II. [6] History [ edit ]

Nose: Very shy – allow it to rest for awhile in the glass to open up. Piney, like sawn pine branches. Tart apples and spicy anisette. Quite floral, although I can’t place the flower. Deep in the glass is a suggestion of white peaches and raw honey. Something that is worth mentioning, however: Tomintoul is the proud employer of one of the Scotch whisky industry’s longest serving Master Distillers. Robert Fleming joined the company in 1990 and for more than thirty years he has guided the production of the distillery’s single malt, overseeing the creation of the entire current range of expressions. It’s an impressive stint by anyone’s So, with no further ado, I give you… Tomintoul 16! Priced where 16 year-old single malts used to be priced, it’s bottled at the basement strength of 40% ABV after aging in exciting extremely usual ex-bourbon barrels. Enter Tomintoul – the gentle dram. A whisky which you both see everywhere and yet is still somehow under the radar. A whisky which to my mind owes much of its composition to the distillery's history (and current) requirements for blending – and as such struggles to shine in our modern world. Incidentally, if your tastes are more aligned with mine, I suggest trying out the distillery’s Old Ballantruan brand which is an entirely different beast altogether.

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Located on the northern edge of the Cairngorms National Park, Tomintoul is the highest village in Highlands. At 345 metres above sea level, it features spectacular landscapes, rugged mountains and, in the winter, regular snow. The artist and writer Mary Barnes died in Tomintoul in 2001, after living there for some time. [21] Both churches, built prior to 1840, remain open in the village, Tomintoul Church and St Michael's. According to the above source, the population was as follows: 530 in 1839 and 686 by 1881.

Without prejudice to the section Liability below, the Service may be temporarily unavailable during maintenance, updates, etc. We shall make reasonable efforts to inform you of any unavailability due to maintenance or updates. It was the Duke of Gordon who commissioned the village, he planned and built it along a military road, it has wide roads, stone-built buildings, and two listed (historically protected) churches. Full disclosure: The whiskies featured in this article were sent to me free of charge. As always, I will strive to give an honest opinion on the quality of the drams and the value for money they represent. Tomintoul 16YO has been matured in selected Ex-Bourbon American Oak casks. It’s been crafted by 4th generation distiller Robert Fleming. The Gentle GunmanYou are responsible for all activities through your account. You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide to us in relation to your account, and for updating it where necessary. You are not allowed to create multiple accounts. We may terminate or temporarily suspend your account to protect you, ourselves or our partners from (suspected) identity theft or other (suspected) fraudulent (e.g. false, misleading, deceptive) activity. You have the obligation to keep your login credentials confidential. You shall not authorize any others to use or access your account.

The Duke built the village hoping to discourage cattle theft and illegal distilling in the area. Unlike Fochabers, (another village the Duke built), Tomintoul was forgotten and neglected. The area around Tomintoul has both treeless moors and lush forests. It’s also diverse in the activities and adventures available across the local countryside. Smell: Malty. Nutty. Honeyed. A wee bit of dry grass. Citrus. Vanilla. New oak. Solvent. Grist. Muesli. Bran. Orange & lemon. Biscuit and baking spices. Regardless of whether the Service offers the functionality to contribute, you are solely responsible and liable for any content and information that you create, upload, post, publish, link to, duplicate, transmit, record, display or otherwise make available on the Service or to other Members, such as chat messages, text messages, videos, audio, audio recordings, music, pictures, photographs, text and any other information or materials, whether publicly posted or privately transmitted (“Contributions”). The primary retailers for tourists include the Tomintoul Gallery that sells work created by local artists, the A'anside Studios that sell arts and crafts and the Whisky Castle, which offers hundreds of single malts. [16] The castle has operated for over a century and offers whisky from every major distillery, as well as some rare products from distilleries no longer in operation. The Tomintoul Distillery, in nearby Ballindalloch, provides some employment; the company has been making whisky here for many decades. There is no visitor centre but some visits are allowed, by prior appointment. [17]Whiskybase B.V. is the Dutch private limited liability company, having its statutory seat in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and its office at Zwaanshals 530, 3035 KS Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Whiskybase B.V. is registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under no. 52072819. As of 2019, the village offers many small accommodation facilities (The Smugglers hostel, B&Bs and holiday cottages) as well as three larger hotels (Hotel Square, The Glenavon and the Richmond Arms). [19] Hotel Square has a "highly recommended" restaurant using local seasonal produce. The regional whisky offerings and craft beer can be sampled in the hotel's pub. The village also made the Glenlivet Walking Festival an annual event as suggested by the 2012 Regeneration Strategy and Action Plan. In addition to tourism and the nearby whisky industry, sheep and beef cattle are raised on farms around the village. [20] Notable people [ edit ] Palate: Medium bodied, although the flavor seems a too watered-down at 40%. Raw honey, again, complete with the comb. Toasted oats, slight wood, and not bitter. Percy Toplis took refuge in the area in 1920 before being discovered by a local farmer. He made his escape, shooting and wounding the farmer and a police constable while doing so. Within a week, he was shot dead by police in England. Overall: A tasty, easygoing malt that has been murdered by the addition of far too much water. By God, this should be 46% at least. The fact that it has been waterlogged – indeed, drowned at 40% ABV – should be ruled a crime against Man and Whisky. For shame. For what it’s worth, it’s a sight better than the Tomintoul 10-year, and definitely worth the extra cash if you’re one of the two or three Tomintoul fans out there. (Cue the two or three angry comments.)