Tomatin 2001 16 YO Cooper's Choice

Tomatin 2001 16 YO Cooper's Choice, 52.5 %

There is quite the influx of Tomatin whiskies in Norway now. There's a new importer for the Tomatin brand, Daracha, with the natural re-vitalized focus. The same importer also handles whisky from the independent bottler The Vintage Malt Whisky Company Ltd, and their Cooper's Choice series.

This Tomatin 2001 16 YO Cooper's Choice was distilled in March 2001, then matured in an ex-bourbon cask (C#1153), before it was bottled in 2017. The total outturn was 320 bottles.

You can get the Tomatin 2001 16 YO Cooper's Choice in Norway at NOK 1499 (8157401), which I think is a bit pricey.

Nose: Strawberry vanilla ice-cream, sprinkled with a few oak chips and finely ground, dried ginger. You can dip your nose in this one with no fear of a burn - you might end up with some delicious ice cream on your snout though.

Taste: Full-bodied and a little rough mouthfeel. Feisty, fiery and spicy. Lots of peppers. Licorice. Not very sweet.

Finish: Medium finish. Relatively oaky by now. Even less sweetness. Some ice cream still, but with caramel sauce and a sprinkling of white pepper this time around. Ripe, red apples towards the end.

Comments: A solid construct. A bottle for those of you that like a dram with your ice cream.

Score (84/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas