Whisky: Tobermory 15 Year (2006) SMWS 42.68 “An Atlantic Morning Dip”

Country/Region: Scotland/Islands

ABV: 59.9%

Cask: Refill Bourbon (13Y), 2nd Fill Heavily Charred Hogshead (2Y)

Age: 15 Years (Distilled 5 April 2006)

Nose: Coastal and spicy, maritime breezes, vanilla, cinnamon, charred driftwood, coconut oil, buttery prawns, melon rind, hints of camphor and sage.

Palate: Medium to full-bodied, drying wood tannins, cream, citrus, a kiss of salt, spice, and Melona at the end; with water more chocolate, mineral-rich beach sand, vanilla, salted caramel, and hints of tar.

Finish: Medium to long with salt, citrus pith, and cinnamon.

Score: 7

Mental Image: Cinnabon Breakfast Margarita

Narrative & Notes:  The aroma was pleasant and coastal, with a brisk salt-laden sea breeze across notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and white pepper. Charred driftwood arrived with butter prawns, coconut oil, and hints of melon rind. Subtle yet sinus-clearing camphor and sage developed with more time. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, the dram had an oaky tannic dryness that developed after its citrusy introduction of yuzu, calamansi, and shikuwasa. Sweet, almost cotton candy sometimes, with Melona, a kiss of salt, and pepper spice. Water shuffled the flavors around, allowing more salt, beach sand, and hints of tar to emerge with chocolate, salted caramel, and vanilla. The finish was medium to long with salt, citrus pith, and cinnamon.

Released as a summer exclusive for the US chapter of SMWS, this Tobermory combined sweet and salt in a pleasant package. I vastly prefer Ledaig to Tobermory— give me that peat!— but the heavily charred hogshead provided a lovely layer of spice with hints of charred wood. The flavor profile was varied and generally well-integrated. I thought a few drops of water heightened the experience, though some of the distinctive citrus qualties fell away. At a local whisky club tasting, this proved popular, not enough to win best dram of the evening, but it turned some heads in a good way.

Overall, a pleasant maritime adventure— the sugary-cinnamon elements left me dreaming of Cinnabon.