Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Tomatin 18yo 2006 Cask #3898 & Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Glenturret 18yo 2007 Cask #22606703

Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Tomatin 18yo 2006 Cask #3898

Region: Speyside

ABV: 54.3%

Price: £138.00 

Distilled at Tomatin in 2006 and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail on the 2nd October 2024 after 18 years of maturation, this Connoisseurs Choice single-cask release was fully matured in refill bourbon barrel #3898. Bottled at cask strength, the cask produced 140 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with lots of citrus, limoncello, orange juice and lime zest, alongside a touch of pepper showing the alcohol. Moving our noses deeper into the glass, we’re finding tobacco, toffee cupcakes, plain crisps, apricot and mango. There’s also a sweeter toasted note appearing in the background, almost like s’mores.

Palate

The palate has a lovely syrupy mouthfeel, opening with plenty of mango and strawberry syrup. On the mid palate there’s citrus coming through with orange and lemonade, alongside sugar syrup, a little honey and tobacco. A hint of pepper spice appears towards the end of the good length finish, but there’s plenty of sweetness and fruit to balance it.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose actually brings out more of the alcohol spice, alongside dried wood and pine cones. Clove, Chinese five spice and cardamom begin to appear, with some sour cherry underneath. The spices somewhat overshadow the fruit that was prominent when undiluted. There’s also more caramel sweetness coming through too.

Palate (with water)

The mouthfeel remains good with water, although some of that upfront sweetness has diminished. It’s much more citrus dominant now, with cold custard, a slight fizziness and a little burnt coffee appearing towards the finish. The finish remains a good length, but overall the palate feels less vibrant than it did neat.

Conclusion

This is a good refill bourbon Tomatin, with lots of citrus and tropical fruit alongside a really nice syrupy texture. It works better for us neat, as water brings out more wood and spice while pushing some of the fruit and sweetness into the background. A solid, enjoyable whisky, but we’d skip the water here.

Score: 7/10

Value

Feels reasonable for an 18yo single-cask Tomatin from Gordon & MacPhail, but we still wish it was a little cheaper.

Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Glenturret 18yo 2007 Cask #22606703

Region: Highlands

ABV: 59.8%

Price: £159.00 

Distilled at Glenturret in 2007 and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail on 4th November 2025 after 18 years of maturation, this Connoisseurs Choice single-cask release was matured in first-fill sherry hogshead that produced 320 bottles. 

Nose

The nose opens with milk and dark cooking chocolate, burnt brown sugar and cinder toffee. Despite the ABV, the alcohol is really well balanced. Going back, we’re finding blackcurrant and cherries alongside some more savoury notes of fresh pasta, a hint of chives and proving dough.

Palate

The palate opens with charred wood, cinnamon and orange rind, alongside a touch of honey and plasticine. There’s Cadbury Caramel chocolate, mince pie filling and blackcurrant initially, before a good amount of cracked black pepper spice begins to build on the medium length finish. The mouthfeel is good, with a touch of weight.

Nose (with water)

Water brings out considerably more spice, alongside a stronger cherry note, warehouse musk and an unusual beef granule note. Some of the chocolate character that was prominent when neat has diminished, leaving the nose feeling a little more disappointing.

Palate (with water)

The palate becomes very sweet with water, with lots of icing sugar and brown sugar coming through. There’s still a fair amount of spice, but the mouthfeel remains unchanged and continues to be one of the stronger aspects of the dram. The finish remains medium in length.

Conclusion

There’s plenty going on here, particularly when neat, with the chocolate, dark fruit and more unusual savoury notes making for an interesting Glenturret. The mouthfeel is good and the alcohol is well integrated, but spice prevents everything from coming together quite as well as we’d like. We’re also not the biggest fan of every aroma and flavour we’re getting here.

Score: 6/10

Value

Currently on sale for around £135 for those interested.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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