Tobermory, 1995-2025, 30 yrs, Murray McDavid, Wu Dram Clan, #9, 52.4%, WB289784

Tobermory, the plain malt supposed to have max 2 ppm of peat in contrast to the dirty peated version Ledaig at least with an amount of 35 ppm, so its is said. This one is said to have been matured for 30 years in French oak barrels. I wonder how murderous the tannins are.

Nose: Apple and pear compotes, fried bananas and fresh herbs such as basil, sage and bay leaves. Marzipan and nuts such as hazelnuts, walnuts and peanuts. Chestnuts. Mulberries. The smell of stale wet socks and old cardboard boxes in a damp cellar. Traces of juniper in the background. I'm not sure if these notes are good or bad, but they are intriguing for the moment.

Palate: It is sharp on arrival and unbalanced. There is an unintegrated sweetness in the foreground that overpowers all the other tastes. Everything about this whisky is unbalanced and stands apart: the sweetness doesn’t match the herbal notes or accompany the spices. There is a great war going on; every taste molecule of every congener is fighting each other. It's no fun to drink. I had already waited for hours and played with water. There's nothing to be gained from playing with water, by the way. It just makes the taste worse.

Finish: The finish is surprisingly short. Sweetness lingers in the mouth while the alcohol numbs the tongue. It's overly sweetened, poorly brewed coffee. Overall, I am a bit disappointed by this Tobermory, there is no gold here, but who am I to judge...

87/85/84