A subtle and restrained Tobermory: very elegant, intense and full bodied but smooth, it takes some time to evolve in the glass to reveal all of its complexity. While not as flamboyant and extreme as our beloved bottling of the same vintage from 2006, this new expression is truer to the original character of the distillery: the sherry influence, from refill casks, is extremely subtle and unobtrusive. The result is very organic (oaky and earthy) at the nose, and very mineral, clean and only imperceptibly smoky at the palate. Very firm, compact and with a darkly sweet toasted maltiness: a profile which is typical of an old-fashioned and maybe slightly austere whisky from the islands…