Tomintoul 12yo Official 43% Circulated in the 1970s

This was the first bottle. It was rich and surprising. Tomintoul TOMINTOUL 12yo Old Bottle 43% Circulated in the 1970s The aroma is gentle and slightly mellow, refined but surprisingly lacking in oldness, deep barley notes, orange peel, black tea, and a hint of bitter chocolate. When drinking, it expands from a smooth mouthfeel into an unexpectedly rich and fragrant flavor, with apricot or orange jam, a rich sweetness, savory barley notes with a subtle bite, and a full-bodied finish without any lack of presence, leaving a pleasant sense of expansion. [Very Good] This is an official Tomintoul 12yo that apparently circulated in the 1970s. Although it's from a somewhat minor distillery, it's well-known for its old bottles in cosmetic-like containers. This particular tall bottle was my first encounter. The initial impression of the aroma was slightly mellow, but I was surprised by its lack of oldness, which didn't seem to match the 1970s circulation. A strong sense of rich barley notes reminiscent of old standards was evident, with nuances of orange peel and a slightly damp black tea. There were no signs of deterioration when drinking, expanding smoothly from a silky mouthfeel into a rich and fragrant depth. I felt an unexpected fullness, as if it weren't watered down. There was a clear fruity jamminess more pronounced than the aroma, with a savory sweetness that gave a sense of bite from the rich barley notes. This was quite an impressive impression. Despite being a considerable old bottle, it had been stored in its box without being moved, so I think its condition was quite good. It had a refined unity without any signs of deterioration, capturing the best aspects of old bottles and was quite delicious.