NV Tomintoul, Five Decades, 50th Anniversary, 50%

Nose: Love it: slightly green tomato, the lightest of muscovado sugars and lashings of malt. Taste: All kinds of caramel and vanillas to the fore. Then a series of brief citrus notes followed by weightier, prettily spiced, molasses. Finish: Long, with spices nibbling at the taste buds like on might nibble chocolate smeared on one’s naked lover. Balance: Writing this Bible, and the inordinate amount of time it takes, day and night, night and day, week in, month out, means that I have to turn down most invites to attend the opening of distilleries and the celebration of anniversaries. Just can’t fit it in. so glad the 50h anniversary of Tomintoul came to me in the shape of this luxurious dram. Another whisky which leaves you scratching your head to wonder why Whyte and Mackay sold this brilliant distillery: as though the manager wanted to get rid of the star player to harmonise the dressing room. Anyway happy 50th birthday Tomintoul distillery: you are in loving hands now and able to fulfil your enormous potential. 5,230 bottles. Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2017

The soft fruit theme continues in this vatting of whiskies from, you guessed it, five decades of the distillery’s life. This has a heavy, heady, honey element alongside apple blossom and then peach and apricot pulp. There’s real complexity. The palate is lighter, although still layered with some heat. With water there’s more apricot skin and some banana. Don’t overwater, as it becomes a touch too tannic. You want that unctuous elegance. Highly recommended. Summer 2016, Dave Broom, www.whiskyadvocate.com