Review #356 - Tomatin 12 Year Cuatro Series: Oloroso
The idea behind Tomatin's Cuatro series was to find the impact that different types of sherry casks had on their spirit. In order to best compare the influence of those casks, they used the same spirit for before finishing - the distillate in this Oloroso version came from the same distillation run as the PX, Manzanilla, and Fino versions.
The bottle actually gives us a lot of information about the aging and cask use: after a distillation on January 15, 2003, this spent a bit over 8 years in its initial maturation period (probably in ex-bourbon casks), until June 29, 2011, when it was transferred to Oloroso sherry casks. It was then finished until March 16, 2015, so we get a little under 4 years in the sherry casks; total age is a little more than 12 years.
Tomatin 12 Year Cuatro Series: Oloroso
Scotland/Highland - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 101 (2024)
Age Statement: 12 Years
Strength: 46% ABV
Cask Makeup: Finished in ex-Oloroso sherry casks
Details: Distilled in 2003, bottled in 2015; 2,000 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 30% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Pears and oranges to start - a bit of aged red wine, and apple skins add to the fruit flavors. There are baking notes like brown sugar and fresh bread; it's a softer nose overall. With time, orange rind comes out.
Palate: A medium thickness mouthfeel, and orchard fruits return - pears, apples, golden fruits in general. Cinnamon and a hint of wood tannins add a little kick, and then we get stronger green apple notes; later, some light brown sugar. Not a huge amount of obvious sherry influence here.
Finish: Medium length, with golden raisins, apples, vanilla, and a mild oak influence. It's well-rounded and middling with its flavors, slightly more simple in the finish.
Final Note: This is a nice sipping Tomatin, and while there's definitely a fruity aspect to it, it's more of an orchard fruit experience, as opposed to a sherry-heavy experience. Somewhat subtle and soft, but enjoyable.
As a discontinued, limited bottling, these bottles are now more challenging to find at a reasonable price; value, therefore is just mediocre.
Our Average Rating: 6.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.15
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
