Tomatin "dusty" find? Need info

[SFS]

Question for the experts out there, as the search feature has not helped me. I drink Tomatin 12, and it comes in the box pictured. Today I was in a liquor store new to me, and the owner's supply was not in boxes, but rather in round tubes, like many other Scotches. I didn't think to take a picture, so the only other description I can provide is that the tubes were black (though not quite as black today's boxes), the font for the lettering was much less modern than today's, and the printed letters may have been light gray or silver, rather than today's white lettering (but I'm not certain of that).

I'm trying to determine how old these bottles are. Does anyone know when the changeover in packaging may have occurred? Are these bottles old enough that the whiskey in them may be significantly different than today's product? If so, are those differences enough to make this a significant find?

[Yeti]

Here's a photo and review from 2007 - http://www.cigarpass.com/forums/topic/33100-tomatin-12-yo-highland-scotch/

Is that what the packaging looked like?

[SFS]

Yeti, thanks for responding.

Yes, this is what I have found. I didn't pick up the tube, but I remember thinking that from my vantage point (it was on a bottom shelf), the tube looked not quite round (like Glenfiddich tubes are not round). The same appears to be true for the tube in this picture.

So these bottles could be as late as 2007. Have I stumbled onto something good here, or is it likely the same whiskey I'm drinking now?

Edit: I've now read the review itself, and it looks like at one time this was marketed at 80 proof rather than the current 86, and was aged 10 years rather than the current 12. I can't read the proof on the bottle pictured with the review, but given the context of the comments, the bottles I found yesterday are likely 86 proof.

I'd love to have any other information or thoughts anyone has on this topic.

Edited January 16, 2013 by SFS
To add final two paragraphs

[Brisko]

I believe the changeover happened in 2009. They "modernized" all the labels throughout the range. I believe they introduced the 15 year old at that time, as well as revamping the 18 and raising the proof.

I haven't had the earlier version but my sense that it probably isn't much different than the current. If anything, the current production may be better, as they seem to have gotten more serious about their single malt range in '09. Tomatin always has been primarily a blend-fill distillery (aren't they one of the highest-volume producers in Scotland?) but they have given their malts more attention of late.

[Yeti]

I'm no expert on Tomatin, but here's what I can gather. Serge has a review of the 12 here - http://www.whiskyfun.com/archivenovember08-2.html#261108 - which is the most recent "old bottle" review I can find. His bottle is 40%, but would be a European bottle and it is not unusual for there to be ABV differences within the same bottling (EU gets 40% Balvenie 21, we get 43%, Duty Free gets 47%, for instance).

On the whisky-monitor there are 12 reviews for both the 2004 and 2008 with an average score that is 4 points different - http://www.whisky-monitor.com/index.jsp?did=119&distilleryName=Tomatin+single+malt+scotch+distillery. That is substantial given the sample size, 7 of the 12 are the same tasters, and indicates that over 4 years the drink is in fact very different. Therefore, the difference between a 2008 (or earlier) and 2012 could be presumed to be noticeably different.

I say go for it. And my job thanks you for making me a little less productive this morning. :grin:

[SFS]

Happy to help you help me, Yeti. If I go back, I'll look at a bottle. Will the codes on the bottom tell me anything? I can't decipher the numbers on the bottom of my current bottles.