Tomatin 18 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

[@runeenggaardlausen1135]

Nice review - as always! We visited Tomatin in the Easter week, and really enjoyed the tour as well as the tasting. The guide knew his stuff - not just something he learned by heart, as we experienced when we visited Talisker. We tasted and bought - without hesitation - their Cù Bòcan (matured in virgin oak, Bourbon, and Oloroso sherry casks). Wonderfully smooth with just a hint of smoke. As the Scots say: Whisky is sunshine in a bottle 🙂

[@WhiskyRiffs]

Thank you, Rune! I didn't get to visit Tomatin during my last Speyside Distillery Tour a couple of years back, but now I wish I had. We're in Broughty Ferry (one train stop away from Dundee) for a month and I'm going to try to snag some special Scotch experiences. Thanks for the suggestion. Cheers!

[@jesseregenauer630]

I'm hearing my Telecaster with just a touch of tremolo thru my 15 watt tube amp in the background (in my head) playing minor chords in the background. Also enjoying a dram of the 18 too. Outstanding single malt in my opinion..... 🥃🎸 Edited to add; I also have been watching Ralphy for years too.....😁

[@WhiskyRiffs]

Ralfy is a whisky hero! I don't know how he's done all those detailed reviews over the years. Thanks for watching and enjoying the minor chords. ;) Cheers!

[@whiskyandsports2964]

My local liquor store started carrying this on a regular basis two years ago starting at $62.99, now it’s $88.99, but still an amazing whisky for the value and it’s 46%, I stopped buying Macallan 18 after I found this, which I was spending $330 for, I like this better, I don’t drink non peated whisky often, but this is now my go to whisky when I do.

[@WhiskyRiffs]

I am having a harder and harder time justifying Macallan prices. I walked out of the Macallan Distillery (kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqfKnqCCgq2LjJI) with zero bottles. The tour and food were great, but the Scotch was overpriced, in my opinion. As for peated drams, I have to put them aside and clear my palette for other kinds of whisky. I was drinking them almost exclusively but my tasting notes for tamer drams was suffering. Cheers!

[@whiskyandsports2964]

@@WhiskyRiffs For the price of Macallan now, they should raise the ABV to something respectable, the only Macallan that holds its weight at this point is the classic cut, I really enjoy those releases. Thanks for the link, I’m going to watch now.

[@WhiskyRiffs]

@@whiskyandsports2964 Agreed. I have an old review of the Classic Cut, if you are interested in that too (kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqa5mIJ7lMadpq8). Cheers!

[@jeffmill999]

This is a great looking Tomatin...I could only find a travel exclusive 15 American oak here. It was also 46% and natural color. These prove Tomatin can make impressive integrity whiskies. I did not want to finish my 15..I had a sentimental attachment as it was early in my single malt whisky ride. Last night, I got in on the vatted single malt integrity fun and blended the last few inches with 4 other excellent single malts to create an entirely new bottle of whisky. That price is awesome for the product you are getting. I would pay that all day. I am trying to up my collection in 2022 with older whiskies and Cast Strength expressions. Something about an 18 on my palate that just seems right at home. Cheers...

[@WhiskyRiffs]

Lately, I've been much more aware of distilleries that make the effort to avoid chill filtering and added colors. When I can find an 18 year old expression that's also priced reasonably, I'm thrilled. Good luck with your collection, Jeff. Cheers!

[@jeffmill999]

@@WhiskyRiffs I guess I am so new to whisky and found Ralfy and Roy at the very beginning, my collection reflects the integrity malt standards. I have never even had any of the most popular blends in the world and my only 40% abv whisky is The Macallan 12 sherry cask. I do drink 40% rums and tequilas in mixed drinks. My single malts are for quiet moments when I can take my time and get to know them. I find an older whisky is perfect for this experience. Cheers

[@WhiskyRiffs]

@@jeffmill999 You've had a better introduction to whisky than me. Well done.

[@bscheirman]

tasty playing at the intro

[@WhiskyRiffs]

Thank you, Ben! I'm pretty happy with it. 😊

[@giannispapazogloy5978]

I just bought Tomatin 15 American Oak for my first non peated single malt whiskey. I hope i love it.

[@WhiskyRiffs]

I hope you do too, Giannis. Feel free to post your review here after you do. Cheers!

[@giannispapazogloy5978]

@@WhiskyRiffs Thanks.

[@ironmantran]

OOOOOh , that INTRO blues = killer ! Great vid.

[@WhiskyRiffs]

Thank you, Timothy! I'm quite happy with that blues recording session. Cheers!

[@togi68]

I like Tomatin and I like Glendronach 18 more, but also it is good price . Thank you for this lovely and smooth rockish videos .

[@WhiskyRiffs]

Thank you for commenting with such kind words, Tolga! Unfortunately, the GlenDronach 18 Year Old "Allardice" is $250 for me. I'll keep looking for a better price. Cheers!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Solid review. I have yet to crack my Tomatin 18. I am a bit worried. I do no enjoy their 12, but I have had other expressions of their's I do love. Hopefully I pick up many of the notes you describe here. Cheers!

[@WhiskyRiffs]

Thanks. I'd love to hear your notes when you do pour a dram. Cheers!

[@transalp1983]

The bottle looks more like a Rum bottle shape

[@WhiskyRiffs]

I guess it does, but I still like the shape. Cheers!

[@toddweeks5843]

Hey Kevin, love the channel. Have you ever done a single barrel head to head review?

[@WhiskyRiffs]

Hey Todd, thanks so much! Which single barrel expressions would you like me to review head to head?

[@MrVividwords]

@@WhiskyRiffs Personally I love both the Balvenie 12 and the 15 single barrel, but I don't know a good competitor for them. I feel like the Bunn 12 sizes up great against the Bal 12 but its not a single barrel. Thank you btw-Port Charlotte OLC is a real treasure and I just bought it this week after discovering your channel.

[@WhiskyRiffs]

@@MrVividwords You're very welcome. I'm so glad that you're enjoying the OLC. It's been a while since I've had a Balvenie 12 cask strength, but I'll take a look at a possible Scotch head-to-head in the single barrel category. Cheers!

[@dennisrudloff2071]

What does "non chilled filtering" mean.. presumably different with different taste considerations than "chilled filtration?" Thanks for getting me a little more detailed on my scotch enjoyment.

[@WhiskyRiffs]

Good question, Dennis. There's a debate on how much chill filtering actually changes the taste of whisky, but I'm against it just in case. The reason distilleries chill filter is to stop a lower ABV (46% and below) from looking cloudy when cooled with refrigeration or ice. Usually whisky that's 46.3% ABV and above doesn't need this process. By chilling the whisky before filtering, more particles are removed. Some of those may actually provide flavor notes. That's why I look for non-chill filtered and natural color whiskies. Cheers!

[@dennisrudloff2071]

@@WhiskyRiffs Thanks for the detail! I do like to keep the boxes, and have focused on Speyside scotches. So far, all do not claim "non chill" and sit at 40% ABV. (Aberlour, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Shieldaig) Presume these are chilled, and you already knew that! So something else to consider on my next walk down the scotch aisle. What might you recommend as a non-chilled Speyside scotch?

[@WhiskyRiffs]

@@dennisrudloff2071 Lots of Speyside expressions are non-chill filtered (NCF). Look at Aberlour, Glenallachie, Craigallachie, Glen Moray, or any distiller that bottles at or just above 46% ABV. Natural color can be harder to find, but that's not going to affect the taste as much as NCF. Cheers!

[@stevef6655]

Hi Kevin, are you perhaps thinking of a Snickers bar? I've tried the 12yo from this distillery and kind of put it as a middle of the road whisky, it didn't blow my socks off but it didn't disappoint either. The distillery is just off the A9 Inverness road, I went there once but my wife was tired and hungry, and giving me grief so I didn't stop!

[@WhiskyRiffs]

Who knows what my brain comes up with, Steve. It's been so long since I've had any candy bars that those kind of notes are faded memories. 😂 Good call on taking care of your wife first. You're a smart man. Cheers!

[@lightplays2181]

Good review , like.

[@WhiskyRiffs]

Cheers!

[@lodgelawyer]

Lad, you might want to try THREE drops of water in this one... it may enrich some notes without shutting down the sherry completely. And IS it the "softer" side of the highlands? Inquiring minds want to know.

[@WhiskyRiffs]

Thanks for the tip, Joseph. I'll try less water next time. And for me, it's NOT the softer side. It's got an edge to it. Cheers!

[@lodgelawyer]

@@WhiskyRiffs I've now entered the Land of Riff: Picked up a bottle, and Tomatin instantly earned its place in the cabinet. Many thanks.

[@WhiskyRiffs]

@@lodgelawyer Excellent. I'm so glad you like it too. Cheers!

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

$100 for Tomatin 18 might be above the average going rate? I think I can get it for $85-90. Tomatin doesn't get a lot of love in WhiskyTuber community, but I tend to like several of their bottlings. Their NAS Dualchas/Legacy is a delicious entry level malt; I like it even better than their 12yo. Their NAS Cask Strength is quite a bruiser; and this 18 is very good. All the Tomatins are generally well presented and well priced. P.S. I actually preferred the older bottle/label design ✌️

[@WhiskyRiffs]

It's a shame that Tomatin is not getting more WhiskyTuber love. I think this 18 year is great for that price point - even if it's a few dollars more in my area. I'll have to look for the others and check out the older bottle design. Thanks for the tips! Cheers!

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

@@WhiskyRiffs Agreed. Yeah, prices can be peculiar things, I kid you not, in Manhattan I've seen $50+ prices differences in a bottle in shops across the street from each other. One shop had Loch Lomand 12, pretty much a $30 bottle everywhere, selling for $80, and I once bought a bottle of Deanston for $50, and saw the same bottle latter that day selling for $120! So buyer beware. Similarly priced 18s would be from Loch Lomand and Glen Moray; the Loch Lomand is pretty good, kinda Springbank-y, and I want to try the Glen Moray someday 🖖

[@WhiskyRiffs]

@@MrChristopherMolloy And the prices aren't consistent either. I have two primary whisky shops and a couple of backups in San Francisco. Some brands will be cheaper at one but not all brands. So I have to compare and then decide if delivery costs are worth adding for a shop versus the more expensive price that I can bike to and pick up myself. I typically do the latter. I'll add Loch Lomand and Glen Moray to my wish list. Cheers!

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

@@WhiskyRiffs Cheers!

[@janteun3]

I like youre channel normally. I am always at ralphy his channel hahahah