Tomintoul 16yo d.2004 (46%, OB, Sauternes Casks, 5094b): nose: The Gentle Dram in full effect, with confectionary sugar, manuka honey and chewy orange-flavoured sweets. All hints at mellow and easy-going, buttery shortcrust and shortbread. If we have fruit, it is of the candied variety, or hidden in a turnover -- perhaps apricot, though my suspicion is peach instead. Said turnover has a pinch of ground cinnamon and nuances of gingerbread. I would be tempted to detect custard, yet, really, it is more of a couque suisse than a custard tartlet. After tilting the glass, the back of the nose clearly picks up raisins and sweet crust, leaving no doubt as to the couque suisse. Mouth: unctuous, mellow, and quaffable, the palate is a direct continuation of the nose: here, we find the same manuka honey and the same candied peach, sticky in its pastry blanket. The cinnamon from the nose seems to have morphed into a bolder Bourbon-cask-wood tone, though it is very much balanced. A lick of timid chocolate, maybe. Raisins, caramelised by the oven, have released a rich, syrupy juice. The sugar becomes so strong it is close to pickle brine. Finish: one can feel the 46%, which work perfectly. An assertive Bourbon influence is clear, at this stage; toasted white oak, a drop of vanilla essence, and then, a juicy sweetness, probably added by the Sauternes finish. Repeated sipping increases the sweetness, dropping candied tangerine segments into mulled wine. Yup: emerging in the finish are a bay leaf, a cinnamon stick and a couple of cloves. Superb dram, even if I can see this turning sickly, when consumed in copious amounts. 8/10 (Thanks for the sample, SL)
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