Tomatin Cù Bòcan, Creation #8, 2026, 46%, WB300819

I would never have bought this because it's not my wheelhouse. But I was influenced by Roy, the famous influencer from Aqvavitae. So there you go, another tragedy and I'm no wiser. This Tomatin, by the way, is an experimental bottling with some interesting cask finishes, such as Canadian Ice Wine and Spanish Verdejo white wine casks — both formidable drinks. How do they influence this bottle?

Nose: There's an intense maltiness, an extremely sweet aroma and tropical fruits, reminiscent of the juices found in countries around the

equator, such as papaya, maracuja, mango and lychee. It's similar to the cheap, sweet multivitamin juice from Aldi that's been found guilty of causing diabetes a, b, c, d and the rest of the alphabet. There are sweet Haribo gums with lots of tropical fruits, but lots of artificial flavours. Speaking of artificial and superficial things, there's a hidden youth and underficial some alcohol burning sneakily underneath. If you change glasses, you'll find grilled pineapple, bananas, hints of coconut, and of course the vanilla armada: butterscotch, crème brûlée, Balsen butter cookies, café latte, and bubble gum. Hey, wait! Those last two are sneaky influencers...

Palate: Forget the palate; just focus on the nose. No, I must endure this procedure even though it's not my wheelhouse. There are hints of bitter seeds, like those from oranges or grapefruits, and a citrusy orange peel flavour. It's very watery yet sharp and alcoholic, and somehow young and superficial. Maybe I can see the intention: to create an easy-drinking, sweet summer whisky. Not on my watch! This is another example of how tastes can differ; some people may find this very appealing, but it doesn't work for me. Despite its watery nature, sharpness and bitterness occur. It's like artificially sweetened, young, thin, bad grappa.

Finish: Short and sharp, with a lingering aftertaste similar to white pepper. The influence is gone if you turn off YouTube; it disappears rapidly if you swallow it down, but the guilt remains — a guilty conscience due to wasting money again for nothing. 'I longed for him. Got him. Shit.' ― Margaret Atwood

87/81/80