Tomatin Single Cask 2009
Official Release | 60.9% ABV
Taking a risk at auction
A prevaling theme these days across Dramface and the whisky-sphere has been the reigning-in of spending on new bottles as our disposable income becomes ever more stretched.
It was clear to me on a recent vPub, when reading through the live chat, people were commenting on how they’ve had to pause when it comes to new releases, re-stocking bottles and just dipping into their collections and enjoying what’s been purchased already.
It’s hard for me to remember the last bottle I purchased from a whisky specialist, either from a shop or an online retailer. The base RRP seems to be creeping up frequently and I’d roughly spend about £50 on a new bottle of whisky. It’s why I’ve started to browse whisky auction sites more and more since the end of 2022.
It was great to hear auction purchases and winning lots as a topic on the most recent Dramface podcast episode 17. I limit the lot price to £50 more or less unless it’s a banger, and if it goes above this, I take it off the watch list and move on.
After filtering out the many pages of Macallan, Springbank and ludicrously expensive Islay whiskies, you begin to see what little gems might be out there at each new auction. I’ve managed to pick up a Douglas Laing Provenance Dailuaine 12 year old for £27.50. Many of the Cadenhead’s Warehouse tasting bottles are available for less than the retail price. It just takes a bit of patience to browse each page. Think of it as bargain hunting through TK Maxx, but in this case it’s for whisky.
Without a second thought, my initial searches are in the form of Ardmore and maybe Caol Ila if the price is right. I’m still on the hunt for a single cask Ardnamurchan after Dougie sent me samples, and I’d love to get my hands on their delicious Paul Launois release. But on occasion, there can be a few bottles that don’t catch the attention of many bidders and it’s worth keeping an eye on them as the auction comes to a close.
That’s how I came across the Tomatin I’m reviewing today. It’s one of those distilleries I want to try more of after enjoying a Tomatin Zoom tasting hosted by JJ in the middle of 2022. It opened my eyes to what the distillery can offer and how flexible their liquid can be while still maintaining their delicious foundation.
Here are some tips I use on auction sites that might be helpful for those wanting to venture into the auction realm:
First, check out each auction site's standard fees and shipping costs. This will be added on top of your winning lot when it’s all done and dusted. It can be an unexpected surprise and forgotten cost. I tend to use Scotch Whisky Auctions, Just Whisky, Whisky Hammer or Whisky Auctioneer. Scottish Highland auctions are also worth a look.
Second, create a watch list and keep an eye on it as it doesn’t hurt to collate your own list that’s handy to monitor.
Next, if certain lots have multiple bids already in before the end of the auction, there’s a good chance that lot will continue to increase in cost and you may get pulled into a bidding war.
Also, keep within your budget. If something goes over and out of reach, don’t worry; it’ll come up again soon.
As for bidding, get your final offer in at the death. As mentioned in the Dramface podcast, submitting a bid will prolong the entire auction for some additional minutes. So be warned. Those auctions normally finish up around midnight on the final day. Check out each auction site's rules and procedures. Some operate where the single lot extends instead of all lots.
And finally, if you’re still feeling a bit lucky, see what indie bottles or older bottlings have little to no bids towards the end of the auction. They might be worth taking a punt on.
These tips have been quite successful for me so far on auction sites - I just have to impose some restrictions on my usual whisky buying habits so I can spend more money on auction sites. It can become a bit of a thrill chasing down bottles and looking forward to auctions going live. Good luck and happy hunting!
Now on to this particular auction win.
Review
Tomatin Single Cask 2009, Aberdeen Whisky Shop Bottling, Cask 3436, 60.9% ABV
£75 retail (£50 paid at auction)
This is bottle 267 of 280 and is one bottle from a trio of single cask releases bottled exclusively for Aberdeen Whisky Shop. They seem to have matured fully in Verdejo white wine barrels. A French oak that’s previously been home to Verdejo wine from a small Spanish vineyard.
This bottle was distilled on June 5th 2009 and bottled July 1st 2019.
I hadn’t heard of Verdejo wine before, so I can’t give much of an insight into the flavour profile this grape brings. It’s a unique enough barrel type to source, which is what intrigued me to explore this offering from Tomatin.
Nose
Dusty wood and icing sugar. Quite herbaceous. Green apples, crushed grapes and lemon zest. The ABV is punchy and loud, but with bags of flavour. Spiced, charred wood with nutmeg and pine needles. Malt, toasted oats and vanilla pods. It rounds and brings out pineapple juice, walnuts and milk chocolate.
Palate
Dry and astringent on the initial sip with a chalky and crisp sweetness. Fondant icing, strawberry jam and tinned peaches. Blast of ginger, orange marmalade and light meringue. Malty. Milk-soaked oats. Really tasty with such a delicious sweetness that I keep going back for more. It was loud on the nose but this is approachable for such a high ABV. Cola cube confectionery, soft fudge, figs and corn syrup. Finishes with vanilla custard biscuits and a dollop of honey.
The finish is nice and long and it slowly fades while leaving a dry tingle on the tongue. Clean mouth coating and that sweet and spice lingers. Lovely stuff.
The Dregs
I’m on the lookout for the other two single casks from this series after tasting this gem. I really liked this and I'm savouring each sip. It has such a flavoursome palate and superb nose. I’ve been lucky yet again with this auction win.
Tomatin is one of those distilleries that keep surprising me - even though each time I taste it, I really enjoy their liquid. From the NAS entry-level Legacy, the 14 year old port maturation to some delicious independent bottlings, Tomatin has a lot to offer in terms of complexity and flavour variety.
If you come across a single cask Tomatin in the wild for a decent price, take a crack at it and let me know your thoughts. I might not be able to replace this bottle, but it’s sparked my curiosity for more liquid from this distillery and this leaves me excited to experience this great Highlander more.
Score: 8/10
Tried this? Share your thoughts in the comments below. HF