Tomatin Cù Bòcan 1988 Vintage Continues Spooky Scotch Run

The Tomatin Cù Bòcan line up, which first popped up on our radar back in 2013 as one of the very first stories we wrote here at The Whiskey Wash, has continued to evolve with both a regular offering and more limited edition expressions. The latest release is in this latter camp, a 1988 vintage matured for around 28 years.

The new Tomatin Cù Bòcan 1988 Vintage, according to the distillery, plays once again upon one the whisky’s spooky theme, named after “a mythical Highland hellhound which was rumoured to haunt the village of Tomatin.” It is the second “vintage” release in this line up, with the other being a 1989 offering that debuted about two years ago.

As with previous Cù Bòcan Scotch, the 1988 is presented as a lightly peated alternative to the more traditional fruity flavors of Tomatin single malt. It’s been aged in ex-sherry casks which previously held “heavily peated Islay whisky” before being bottled at 51.5% ABV.

With regards to pricing and availability, it is currently being rolled out worldwide and will price around £199, or about $290 USD, and is limited in scope to just 2,200 bottles. Limited tasting notes from Tomatin suggest “an aroma of campfire smoke and stewed pears with flavours of candied tropical fruits and an earthy peaty tang.”

“In such a crowded market, innovation is key,” said Stephen Bremner, sales director at Tomatin, in a statement. “We have invested a lot of time in carefully crafting a range of different expressions to appeal to new markets and push boundaries so we are delighted with our latest offering which experiments with heavily peated Islay casks to infuse our naturally light spirit with an earthy, distinctive flavor.”