Buying a single cask whisky by Scotland’s oldest independent bottler Cadenhead’s at Hanse Spirit has become somewhat of a tradition for me. Last year, I purchased a stellar Dalmore 24yo with a rum finish from their booth. This year, I went home with this outstanding Tobermory, which spent a long 21 years in a bourbon hogshead. Since I am a huge fan of wind‘n’weathery island whiskies, this dram had me in its grip from the very moment I drew it to my lips. This immense saltiness, this raw power, this untamed spirit! And, of course, this astonishing texture that unifies flavors as (seemingly) contradictory as smoke-dried meat and liquorice pastilles like they never existed apart from each other. Sure, if you spend the whole afternoon at a whisky fair, you will inevitably reach a point where your taste buds are no longer to be trusted. But thankfully, the fine gentlemen at the Cadenhead’s booth also supplied me with a 2cl sample of this whisky alongside the bottle I bought. Thus, I was able to give it another try at home without the need to pop the cork off my newly acquired treasure right away. And guess what? I loved it just as much the second time as I did the first time!

by Tobi

Eye: Sand-colored.
Nose: Smoked ham with a thick salt crust. In addition, there is also a beguiling maritime note made up from a sniff of sea air and the tanginess of sun-dried algae.
Palate: This single cask Tobermory is as fine an “ocean dram” as one can find. It is as salty as a sea breeze, as strong as a storm tide and as headstrong as an old captain, who spent the bulk of his years on deck.
Finish: Thundering! Once swallowed, this whisky unleashes a flood of liquorice that lasts for ages!

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Region: Scotland (Islands)
Age: 21 Years
Cask: Bourbon Hogshead
No. of bottles: 450
Alc. volume: 52.5%
Bottle size: 0.7 litres
Price range: ~105.00 Euro
More info: http://www.cadenhead-berlin.de/ (Bottler) ; http://www.tobermorydistillery.com/ (Distillery)