In 2019, the team at Tomatin rebranded its distinct peated “Cù Bòcan” releases with the launch of a revised set of three expressions: Signature, Creation #1 and Creation #2 with the moniker “Unlocking The Unusual”.
The series is now up to 7 different ‘Creations’ but here I’m revisiting the first in that run of experiments: Creation #1.
What we have here is a decently aged and specific combination of two fairly uniquely seasoned cask aged whiskies:
- 72%: 9yo aged in Bacalhôa Moscatel de Setúbal wine cask
- 28% 12yo aged in Black Isle Brewery Imperial Stout barrels
Packaged inside a cool and twisted bottle, the final whisky weighed in at 46% ABV, available at the time for around £50 GBP.
Nose
It’s thick, sweet, and delicious off the bat! All the scents meld to make the smell of hot cross buns – freshly baked bread, a sugary glaze, cinnamon, sweet red fruit, and some gingery spice and heat underneath.
Taste
The nose’s initial sweet baking flavours arrive but make way for more of a dark chocolate bitterness, before that is then, in turn, eclipsed by a fiery cracked black pepper spice and a touch of smoke.
Finish
All nicely tingly from the oak spices and alcohol strength but also balanced with a touch of dark chocolate bitterness and a light smoky/roasty note.
Verdict
You’ve got to start a series off with something special and with those unusual cask types involved, this thankfully delivered.
The nose offered a few hints here and there that all worked together for that hot cross bun list of ingredients but then the palate seemed to take them all and amp each one up.
Thankfully, an office move helped uncover the sample and so I was able to revisit my original notes and some more. The two experiences seemed to ring true with the respective notes. Fair play.
Am guessing it’s the stout that’s bringing that dark chocolate and roasty set of flavours, that do add something.
The pic above is the official photo from Tomatin and each of the series have used this unique twists bottle, which matches the fairly twisted list of cask types and influences used here. It’s a bold move to experiment with these and then fuse them together. Beer in mind that the stout aged one had been there for 12 years – so at what point was the series conceived beforehand? The other Creations each have something unusual about them – as their tagline suggests – so it takes some foresight and planning to get these out. I, for one, am all for it.
Despite being borne of the Tomatin peated spirit, this really isn’t that peaty or smoky – unless it’s just melding with the roasted malt and imperial stout flavours working together – and just works as an additional sensation, rather than being front and centre. Let those casks do their work.
M
Dram disclosure: This sample was received as part of a promotional Tweet Tasting event organised by Steve Rush @TheWhiskyWire. This post is not intended as a promotion however, but an honest, fair, and independent review of the whisky itself. Please drink responsibly.
whisky unplugged 
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