ROBERTSONS Tobermory 11yo 61.3% abv 700ml

Description

Robertsons Tobermory Whisky

Single Cask  – 324 bottles

Natural Colour

Natural Cask Strength 61.3% abv

Non-chill Filtered

Distilled 2008

Bottled 2020

11 Years Old

First Fill Sherry

Robertsons Tobermory,  was released in February 2021.  It was distilled in November 2008 and bottled in September 2020, just short of its 12th  birthday.

The majority of previous Robertsons bottlings have been from ex bourbon casks, this is from a 1st fill ex-sherry butt (cask no. 900161)  Finding ex-sherry cask matured whisky is getting more difficult due in part to popularity and part availability. When selecting casks to bottle I work on one very simple principles:  if I like them I buy them. I don’t focus on particular regions, distilleries or finishes, but on the individual flavour characteristics of the cask. When selecting casks I will probably choose around 1 in every 10 casks that I taste.

The classic Tobermory Single Malt is distilled from unpeated malted barley and matured in oak casks for at least ten years. A heavily peated whisky is also produced, but in small quantities, named Ledaig (pronounced lechig) after the original distillery name. The malts are used in a number of blends including Scottish Leader and Black Bottle. The water for the distillery comes from a private loch near to the Mishnish lochs. The branding had been confused under previous owners, with the Tobermory brand being used for both a single malt and a blended whisky.

Tobermory is owned by Distell who also own Bunnahabhain and Deanston.

Tasting notes are very personal and subjective, but here is what I get:

Nose: Sweet sherry, dried fruits, moscovado sugar and spice with earth straw notes. It opens to oak, creamy vanilla and a hint of eucalyptus.

Taste: Warm, sweet spice and peppery. Rich and oily yet drying.  Marmalade oranges. Add a drop of water and the caramel and oak comes out

Finish: Toffee, caramel, dried mixed fruits, long hot and spicy. Add water and lovely creamy fudge and Scottish tablet come through.

If you decide to buy this bottling then thank you.  I have no doubt that you will enjoy this delicious whisky.

Slainte

Ewan McIlwraith