Nose: Lots of sherry right up front and initially it is surprisingly spirity for 43% abv. Allowing the dram to rest and let the ethanol to blow off a little reveals a very sweet nose with fruit cake, beeswax, orange syrup, maple syrup and just a suggestion of mild leathery smoke. It’s pleasant to nose with a rich, plush quality without being a one-note sherry bomb, and the longer you leave it the better the nose becomes. Palate: Soft and fruity with some gently spiced orange oil and mixed citrus peel in the arrival. As it develops more mild spice appears (nutmeg, cinnamon) along with gristy barley-sugar and Seville marmalade. The texture is surprisingly light and lacked heft for my taste – I thought it would have been more interesting if it had a more oily mouth-feel. Finish: Medium. Citrus oil fading to warming but bittersweet chocolate and unsweetened black coffee, with a metallic hint right at the end. There is a reminder of oloroso sherry throughout the profile. The nose is exactly what you would expect with Tomintoul’s gentle, fragrant fruity distillate being aged in good sherry casks, but although it is enjoyable the whole package is a little underwhelming for my taste. I have to say I’m confused about this concept of a “cigar malt” and having now tried such whiskies from several houses (Dalmore, Glenrothes, Tamdhu, Linkwood, Mortlach and now this Tomintoul) the only commonalities I can find are fruity sweetness, sherried maturation and an attempt to emulate cognac. Which makes me ask the question – why not forget whisky and just pair a cigar with a fine cognac as the Good Lord intended we should? Anyway, this is a good malt overall, not a fantastic one but certainly better than just “above average” so it rates a solid descriptor of “good” from me. However, if only the mouth-feel had more density and presence I’d bump my score up by half a star. “Good” : 83/100 (3.5 stars)