From Tomatin, Cù Bòcan is an experimental Highland Single Malt that explores innovative finishes. Made with lightly peated, Scottish barley, it’s distilled every winter in limited batches & matured in a variety of casks to unlock unusual flavours.
Legend also has it that a Tomatin worker once reached out to touch the fur of Cù Bòcan, when the beast dissolved and spirited away across the peat moorland.
Cù Bòcan creations include Black Isle Brewery Imperial Stout + Bacalhôa Moscatel De Setúbal Wine Casks, Japanese Shochu + European Virgin Oak Casks, Moroccan Cabernet Sauvignon + North American Rye Casks & Tawny Port + Cognac Casks.
Cù Bòcan Signature Single Malt 46% ABV: matured in Bourbon, Oloroso Sherry and North American Virgin Oak casks.
Appearance: Dessert wine, a crisp light gold. Quick-forming beaded swirl mark and lots of thin/medium legs.
Nose: Toffee, pastry, baking spices, lemon meringue pie (biscuit base). As the glass matures the biscuit note strengthens, quite malty.
There’s a touch of pepper which adds a nice balance to the generally sweeter elements on the nose.
It’s a really friendly and well-rounded nose. All the elements are there, well-married and very inviting.
After a while, I get those sweet shop aromas. The foam sweets and a touch of banana. I could nose this one for some time, it’s lovely and offers something a little different each time. Banana bread mixed with sticky toffee pudding.
Towards the end of the dram, mixed with the ’empty glass’ aroma, it’s quite funky, I like that.
Palate: Not hugely oily but a nice mouthfeel nonetheless. More spice forward than the nose would suggest (as is usually the case). Quite drying on the throat.
The malt note is still evident. Some spearmint tingle and a sharp red fruit ripple running through it.
The lemon element is more obvious (to me) on the palate than it was on the nose. Most zesty and a touch bitter maybe.
Finish: The finish is a spicy mix of the sharp fruit and the zesty citrus. Medium to long.
Overall: Amazing nose and decent palate. I’d buy a bottle, especially as it’s reasonably priced at under £40
