A very special 18 year old Tobermory  to celebrate the Clan Maclean gathering on Mull, 2012  ONLY 300 (approx) BOTTLES AVAILABLE @ £95 EACH, plus shipping.

This special bottle will come from Adelphi and is so special we think (Know) it will sell out fast. For non Maclean's we are now placing members who want one of these special bottles, on a "waiting list" to be first in line, after Macleans have had a chance to purchase.  We are not saying there will be definate bottles available, BUT - if YOU wish to place your name on the list, please let me know. Contact Paul at; tob18@mcleanscotland.com

Paul "The whisky is an 18 year old Tobermory Malt Whisky and is being drawn from the one cask producing about 300 bottles. The bottle is packaged in a pine box with the Clan Crest on the box. The bottle itself is wrapped in a copy of the front page of one of the newspapers that published details of the Gathering in 1912. The box also has an explanation leaflet on the whisky, the centenary and Charlie Macleans tasting notes. I should have said that this whisky has been selected by Charlie Maclean. The price of the whisky is £95.00 a bottle including VAT. I have said in my part of the write up in the booklet that any profits made from the sale of this whisky will go into helping repair the fabric of the Castle." With many thanks. Lachlan.   Sir Lachlan Maclean, 28th Chief of Maclean.

Castle Duart - home to the Chief's of Clan Maclean.  The Maclean lineage stems from old Dugald of Scone, of the Royal House of Lorne from the ancient Celtic Kings of Dalriada. Macleans take their name from one of the descendents, a legendary hero of the thirteenth century, Gillean-Na-Tuagha (Gillean of the Battle Axe). Gillean or Gilleoin means a devotee of St. John. Hence his children are called Clan Gillean. Great warriors and supporters of Robert Bruce, they fought at Bannockburn under Gillie Callum. His son, John, obtained grant of lands in Mull and his sons, Lachlan, Duart, and Hector Loch Buie established the Maclean Clan that rose to great power and influence under the Lordship of the Isles. On the forteiture of the Lordship the Maclean’s transferred their loyalty to the Stuart kings. Their loyalty to the Stuarts nearly brought them to ruin (Clan Campbell had a lot to do with it), but they have survived through hard and difficult times. In modern times, Duart remains the main Clan seat and Clan Chief, Sir Lachlan Maclean of Duart and Movern Bt. Is the twenty-eighth Chief of Clan Gillean.

Hi Paul, I agree with everything Mikhail says! A very perceptive tasting note. I love his mention of 'mole poblano, carambola and feijoa'! Clearly your friend has an highly experienced palate! Many thanks for sending me his notes. Kind regards,Charlie

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Paul's notes; not nearly so good as Mikhail I'm afraid... easy dram, citrus, apple blossoms, sweet and a spice hint on the snout, you know that smell from a piece of tree that has fallen into the water, been stuck for ages on a rock, has that "sea" smell to it, rotten bark, not salty but just a smell of the water about it, thats what I get. What the hell am I drinking? have I drank too much?

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TASTING NOTES

Hi Paul, Here are my notes on Tobermory 18yo Duart Castle Adelphi 50% Bottled Apr 2012. Refill Hogshead #188/12, 300 bts.. Selected by Charles MacLean. Released to mark the Centenary of the Clan Maclean's return to Duart, Isle of Mull in August 1912

Colour: white wine. Nose: oily, malty, with some spicy notes (cardamom, ginger, some vanilla and black pepper). Mossy wood and hints of chestnut. Body: light but rather rough
Palate: quite sharp and sweet, notes of mexican 'mole poblano'. Carambola and feijoa, fudge and marshmallows. Shortbread  Aftertaste: drying and citrusy, mouthwashing with hints of fresh apples. Medium long. Impression: a bit austere, "island style" whisky with many beautiful notes appearing. I would call it 'very good', scoring 85 out of 100. Many thanks for a chance to try this one! Kind regards, Mikhail. Moscow.

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Tasting the Tobermory 18. 6 of my coworkers gathered in a conference room on a warm Friday afternoon in response to my request to taste a Whisky I had brought back from journeys in the old country. The Whisky was the Tobermory 18 bottled for the 2012 Maclean Centennial Gathering on Mull held earlier this year. I had mentioned I wanted us to taste and i would record our impressions of the Whisky for members of Angels Share to read. I flatter myself it was more than the opportunity to taste what promised to be a great malt that brought them together. My conversation has its own charm?, well maybe not. We each had our own glass and with the preamble to tasting concluded we set to sampling and recording our impressions. I will note I do not consider myself in anyway  a Whisky expert but more of an interested amateur. Our plan would be to taste and record our impressions for the nose, mouth feel and then the whisky overall.  The Whisky presented a light amber colour with its legs indicating a heavier body. Opening the bottle allowed the Whisky to immediately permeate the room. With this scent in our nostrils we were ready. Our impressions of the nose ran to descriptions of light, sweet, hints of smoke, caramelized sugar, perhaps even butterscotch. We all agreed the Whisky was well rounded and presented itself with dignity. No overwhelming singular characteristics but instead a mature offering of qualities which promised more enjoyment when tasted. For mouth feel we noted the smoothness on the tongue, no impressive alcohol burn. Other impressions included more caramel flavor, more sweetness. Interestingly none of us could really taste the light smokiness we had noticed in the nose. We all did agree the Tobermory had a good mouth feel on and under the tongue.  Adding a small amount of filtered water intensified the smoke impression on the nose and on the tongue.

 We tasted the Whisky 3 to 4 times and I asked for the general impressions from the group on their experience with the Tobermory. The consensus was the Whisky was up front on the tongue. Rolling to the back of the mouth it disappeared with a quick finish. The Tobermory did not have the feel of a 100 proof bottle of alcohol, it instead let you know the alcohol was there and then introduced you to the rest of its characteristics. A very easy drinking and well defined single that I plan to enjoy while the bottle holds out. Cheers from 7 Whisky aficionados in California! Mark Myers, USA.