Tomintoul Peaty Tang Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Tomintoul (pronounced "Tom-in-to'owl") has been owned and operated by Angus Dundee Distillers since 2000. Originally built in the 1940s, by comparison to some of its counterparts in Speyside, this is a very quiet operation with modest exports and low key marketing. These facts combined with some gushing reviews from Jim Murray would suggest that local demand for the product is reasonably strong. In spite of this, up until a few years ago less than 2-3% of Tomintoul's output was bottled as single malt, the rest making its way into blends like Whyte & McKay. Clearly the distillery is capable of some serious whiskies - the 33 year old was chosen as best Speyside whisky of 2010 in the Whiskymag World Whiskies Awards. On another note, the year before, Tomintoul entered the Guinness Book of Records by producing the largest bottle of whisky in the world at 105.3 litres! They remain one of the few Speyside producers to delve into heavily peated styles.

The Peaty Tang offers a big peaty whiff as choc fudge marries with wood smoke, lanolin and hints of brine. Later inspection reveals a sweet earth/farmyard aspect with hints of manure and wool shed. Follows through on the palate, though the delicate, malty heart of Tomintoul remains; solid concentration and excellent balance. Light, briny finale. Beautifully rounded. 40% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews...A bit more than a tang, believe me! Faultlessly clean distillate that revels in its unaccustomed peaty role." 94 points
- Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2012

...A number of mainland distillers have developed a habit of producing batches of heavily-peated spirit in recent years, including the Speyside distillery of Tomintoul. Tomintoul first embarked on the peaty path with Old Ballantruan, and Peaty Tang follows on the heels of that release. It too carries no age statement and seems to incorporate a significant amount of quite youthful spirit. It offers a lively nose of peat reek, with floral background notes, malt and something close to carbolic soap. Characteristic Tomintoul softness and delicacy on the palate, malty and sweet, overlaid with a nutty, smoky coating. The finish is dry, smoky and comparatively short. 40.0% ABV 3/5 Stars - www.whisky-pages.com