Tobermory 10 Year

Tobermory is a close cousin of Ledaig 10. Or, perhaps to put it more accurately, Tobermory is heir to the throne, bearing the name of the distillery itself, while Ledaig 10 is the cousin and second-in-line. The distinction between the two is that Tobermory's malt is unpeated, although its flavor profile purportedly picks up some peat influence because the spring water used actually flows over peat bogs. To be honest, I was hard-pressed to detect that here, but what is apparent is that this is a high-quality single malt. The nose features a slightly oily aroma, green apple, and toffee, and those flavors are joined on the palate by a rich, chewy, pure cereal grain note that is much more pronounced and cleaner than in your typical 10-year single malt. The finish is also cereal and oat-flavored, and makes for a satisfying conclusion to this one. For $50-60, you could do a lot worse.

My third tasting of this distilleries offering and I wouldn't say I'm a big fan. Mild, blandish, inoffensive, pleasant are words that come to mind. The descriptors rich, complex, interesting aren't. Solid 3 and in the words of the famous FG....'and that's all I have to say about that'.

Colour is quite pale--watered-down apple juice-from-concentrate; nose is a bit of a Bruichladdich-esque popcorn butter, some gingerbread and molasses, salinity and seaweed. Fresh apple skins (mostly green apples), lemon, and slight strawberry. Wine Gums and a bit of mint (spearmint?). Taste is coastal and fruity--candied lemons, saltwater, pepper and chili. A bit of sourness--like sour fruits. Something indistinctly floral. Oily, waxy texture. Some dry wood. Finish is short and dominated by lemon, green apples, floral notes, and not super-well-integrated wood. Not a bad whisky, nor is it a great whisky. It'll do on this cold evening.