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Kensington Wine Market's 2023 Whisky Calendar UBER EDITION Day 8 - Claxton`s Tobermory 26 Year Old

Posted on December 8, 2023

by Evan

Okay, guys – I swear it wasn’t just me who selected the whisky for the UBER Calendar. I am only realizing now that we have two single casks from the Tobermory/Ledaig distillery. The first one was the SMWS 42.73 - Quiet confidence on Day 1. This guy for Day Eight of the UBER Calendar? Is it an unpeated Tobermory, or a peated Ledaig? We will have to delve into the glass and decide for ourselves, I think.

Regardless: one of the cool things about his and the SMWS Ledaig is that they were both distilled on the same year: back in 1995. We have been seeing a few different 1995 Tobermory and Ledaigs over the past few years, so at some point, a parcel of casks must have been sold through a broker and spread about to indie bottlers such as the SMWS, Claxton’s and more.

A relatively new independent bottler, Claxton’s was founded in 2011 and launched its first releases in 2015. The company established it’s first warehouse to store their casks in 2019. Claxton’s bonded warehouse is located on Dalswinton Estate, on the northern edge of Dumfries in Scotland. The warehouse is a traditional one-level with an earthen floor dunnage building. The site also contains a tasting lounge and bottling facilities.

So, what makes this Tobermory different than the SMWS Ledaig we tasted on Day One? A few things, possibly. While there has been some debate over whether the SMWS bottle was a true, peated Ledaig or not an unpeated Tobermory. This bottling from Claxton’s is labelled as Tobermory – full stop. This Claxton’s bottling is also from one single ex-Sherry Butt, not a first-fill ex-Bourbon Hogshead like the SMWS bottle. That should create a marked difference in the style. Shall we taste it and decide?

Claxton`s Tobermory 1995 - 26-Year-Old - 52%

“An incredibly exciting 26-year-old Tobermory matured in Sherry Butt No: C21002, and limited to just 436 bottles. This one almost seems like it has been priced wrong. Sherried whisky, high age statement, and from an 'in demand' distillery. These things don't come along often, especially at this sort of price. Natural colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 52% abv”

Evan’s Tasting Note

Nose: Savoury spices and plenty of Sherry. French onion soup, caramelised sugar, dates, fruit leather, orange liqueur, milk chocolate, and a touch of hickory and a whiff of rubber.

Palate: Big and chewy with candied walnuts, dates wrapped with prosciutto, apple crumble, ground pepper, and a dash of soy sauce.

Finish: Lengthy with plenty of fruit leather and spices.

Comment: This is the bigger and bolder side of older Tobermory. It is a bit savoury, but it is all the more delicious for it. The sherry cask had its way with the whisky, but the whisky seems to have had just as much effect on the cask.

Talk about a contrast! This is more quintessentially Tobermory to me compared to the subtlety of SMWS 42.73 – Quiet confidence. I love them both though. I wonder if we put any more Tobermory in this Whisky Calendar….

Only time will tell!

Cheers,
Evan
evan@kensingtonwinemarket.com
Facebook & Instagram: @sagelikefool

You can find all blog posts for the UBER EDITION of Kensington Wine Market’s 2023 Whisky Calendar Here

Watch our recent virtual tasting with Tom Roskams and Martin Burnett for more information on Claxton's here!

This entry was posted in Whisky, Whisky Calendars, Independent Bottler, KWM Whisky Calendar 2023 UBER EDITION

 

 

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