December 7th, 2009
New Tomintoul 33 year old
John Hansell
This is just in from Lorne Mackillop of Angus Dundee Distillers:
We are launching in 2010 in the USA a new 33 Year Old expression at 43% alcohol, in a new package. It is already available in Europe. This whisky comes from casks that have been specially selected to ensure that the wood characteristics have not overpowered the naturally “gentle” whisky that is natural style of “Tomintoul”.
Availability will be quite limited, and it is expected to retail at around $290 per 750ml bottle.
The 27 Year Old “Tomintoul” will not be re-made.
Lorne is a master balancing a whisky’s flavors, so I don’t expect this whisky to be over-woody (or over-anything for that matter.) I’m looking forward to trying it. I liked the 27 year old, which this whisky is replacing.
Category: New Releases,Scotch whisky
Tags: Tomintoul
Tomintoul’s generally a really nice whisky, which of course meanse, that its generally a really underrated whisky. The distillery house style is refreshingly traditional. It doesn’t strive for anything it can’t attain, and doesn’t obfuscate it’s shortcomings with postures of boldness or authenticity. It’s just a tasty well-balanced dram, usually.
Also, the world’s-biggest-bottle-of-whisky marketing stunt they did was nice too. Like the whisky, a very oldfashioned and unassuming production– And this really comes into focus when you compare it to the likes of the Macallan Rankin Pollaroid campaign or the Ardbeg Double Barrel, etc.
Price on this one is quite fair too, especially if it’s good. I look forward to a taste
Red, I agree with your assessment of Tomintoul. Nicely done!
I bought the 16yo a couple of years back for $40- which is a great price for the age- but found it more one-dimensional than complex.
Fun Fact: I believe this is the only distillery imported by a kosher company. Look at the label, which says it’s imported by Medek. This is Kedem, backwards; a HUGE kosher wine company.
I should add that the lack of complexity makes it a great drinking dram when you don’t want to concentrate on what you are drinking. Like Dalwhinnie. (ducks)
Lawschooldrunk, yes I think you are right about the importer. For what it is worth, Medek/Kedem also import the often exceptional Mackillop’s Choice line of whiskies. I don’t know about other markets, but here in the D.C. area all of these whiskies have been, sadly, VERY hard to find.
The older these whiskies get, the more I seem to like them. The develop more depth and complexity.