The peated range of Tomatin, Cù Bòcan, was relaunched in 2019, and now its 5th release is available. As with previous releases, Creation no. 5 underwent an uncommon finish, maturing in Colombian Andean oak casks. This is the first time a Scotch single malt has matured in this type of cask, which may explain why it was unfamiliar to me. 🙂
Andean oak comes from the Cordillera region, located in the Andes mountains, Columbia, growing at a high altitude of no less than 3500-4000 meters! The climate in this area is tropical, yet cold and very humid. You can imagine that this has an effect on the oak and thus gives off a certain and unique taste. It is said to be aromatic and floral but also tropical and fruity. And that sounds like music to my ears! Let’s have a taste, shall we?
This Cù Bòcan edition was first matured in refill American oak hogsheads and then further matured in Andean oak casks for slightly over a year.
Cù Bòcan Creation no. 5 tasting notes:
Nose: immediately I get a whiff of eucalyptus, quickly accompanied by some sweetness. Honey and sweet peaches come to mind. There is a light hint of smoke in the background, followed by a floral note. As time goes on, the sweetness moves more toward wine gums.
Taste: more smoke than the nose suggests. The eucalyptus is back, but also the lovely sweetness of honey and peaches. Even the floral note can be found here, but just a hint. Moreover, there’s a sugary note, that’s followed by oranges. Toward the end, I get a hint of charred oak. Black pepper and cloves, adding a hint of spice.
Finish: mid-long with smoke, eucalyptus, cloves, and black pepper.
A nice addition to the Creation series, and the finish has paid off quite a bit, as it’s rather noticeable. While a longer finish in these casks may have been overwhelming, this works very well.
Bottle provided by Tomatin
