Tobermory 11 Year Sherry Butt

Nose: watery cereal mash, lemon, vinegar. When neat the nose is incredibly tight. Adding a generous splash of water opens it a little but nothing much more shows up. Palate: When neat this has a spicy and simple cereal arrival, and like the nose it is almost impenetrable in that state. Adding water does little apart from making it easier to take. The texture is nice once it is reduced. Finish: Short. Cereal, lemon, brine. Not a particularly good whisky. In fact, it’s pretty boring. I had expected a lot more from an 11 year old sherry-finished Tobermory. If you reduce it and allow it to sit in the glass for a long time it does eventually blossom a little, but it never achieves much. This was a distillery-only special bottling but I can’t imagine why, and I can’t imagine anyone being a big fan. Yes it’s pure and shows the distillery character well, but it’s just not interesting. I was disappointed on the whole but I can’t bring myself to rate it less than 70 because despite its dullness it is faultlessly made. Tasted from a sample bought at Tobermory Distillery, 14 April 2025. “Adequate ” 70/100 (2 stars)

Distilled: November 2007 Bottled: June 2019 Casks: Refill hogsheads. Final 22 months finished in sherry butts. Nose: Sweet & honeyed. Oranges and dried fruit (sultanas) Palate: Very syrupy sweet. Dried fruit (apricots and sultanas). Finish: Pudding wine - Sauternes / Malaga Dulce. Orange peel and raisins. Overall, this is a sweet and fruity dram. There’s a slightly artificial taste again, - which also is present in the standard release(s) - and a waxy, oily mouthfeel. The combination of the sweetness and waxiness doesn’t work for my palate. Not one I’d be likely return to.