I’ve come a long way in two years, from barely having tried Tobermory, to considering it one of my favourite distilleries – especially it’s older expressions. At it’s best it delivers the fruity, dirty, funk my soul craves. So now at whisky shows I look out for it, and I returned from Limburg 2025 with two precious samples, to which I will add a re-evaluation of the first bottle of old Toby I bought after having had my eyes opened to this underappreciated gem of a distillery.
Tobermory • 25yo (1995) • 46.8% • C. Dully Selection
Scotch Single Malt • Refill hogshead • Natural Colour & Unchillfiltered • €290 • WB🔗
Tasting notes from a 2cl sample bottle
Nosing
A light and bright profile, though a little shy. Litchi, granny smith, and elderflower, fragrant rice. A little bready and savoury, like a cheese and ham sandwich? Perhaps a pickle in there, too.
Deliciousness
Fun factor
Sipping
Intensely flavourful with all kinds of white and yellow fruits, floral spices (coriander seed), wine gums. It’s old oak juice, but with a vibrancy and lightness. Smoky and dirty/cheesy notes in the immediate finish, turning oily.
Deliciousness
Fun factor
Overall
This is really close to one of my favourite styles at the moment. This bright fruitiness, complemented by a dirtiness. Worth keeping an eye out for on auction, and if we fall significantly under €200 I would be tempted.
Personal favourite
❤️
Tobermory • 25yo (1994) • 57.3% • A. D. Rattray
Scotch Single Malt • Bourbon hogshead • Natural Colour & Unchillfiltered • not available • WB🔗
Tasting notes from a 2cl sample bottle
Nosing
Banana, melon, liquorice, grilled seafood, yeasty beer, farmhouse butter, blue cheese, matchstick. It runs from ripe fruits, through to maritime smoke and savouriness.
Deliciousness
Fun factor
Sipping
Exceedingly briney and savoury and what has been brined are grilled tropical fruits (a delicacy I just made up). Really oily too, a little sharp in the alcohol but not spicy. Lots of smoky peat and tobacco in the immediate and long finish, and greasy leather. There is an integrated sulphur note that is not off, and it makes it a very heavy tasting experience, where even 2cl feels like a large amount (that rarely happens).
Deliciousness
Fun factor
Comments
When Simon and I tried this at Whisky we had this very strong impression of blue cheese that intrigued us. Right now I don’t get this association so strongly, but it is a very savoury dram.
Tobermory • 24yo (1994) • 55.3% • Spirit Stock
Scotch Single Malt • Sherry butt • Natural Colour & Unchillfiltered • sold out (I paid €166 in 2023) • WB🔗
Tasting notes from a 25% full bottle; re-review of #110
Nosing
Well-bound sherry, spicy, also rather boozy, even with water. Autumn leaves, gingerbread dough, red apples, minerals, heather and dried herbs. Smelling the empty glass is an orange-y, farm-y delight, though.
Deliciousness
Fun factor
Sipping
Salted caramel, but not that sweet, even a bit drying. Terry’s chocolate orange. Something youngish, like being a bit boozy or perhaps its more like freshly herbal and mentholic. Beyond that there are lovely old and dirty notes of tobacco, leather coach, and barnyard.
Deliciousness
Fun factor
Overall
Having had three quarters of a bottle over the course of almost two years (how did that happen?) I can quite confidently say that this release did not fully deliver what I was hoping for. The palate is quite delicious, but falls short of the amazing Tober I had bet my money on in buying two bottles. The second one I’ll put to auction, probably.
DuckDrams 
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