Smoking Buffalo 2005 TBD (The Bonding Dram)

Bottled by The Bonding Dram, this Tobermory, a 7 year old from 2005, drawn from cask 6 and bottled at 56.4%. Just 294 bottles were filled. Tobermory is the unpeated single malt of Mull's only distillery, founded in 1798 in the island's painted harbour town. Burn Stewart revived the distillery in 1993, and Distell of South Africa bought it in 2013.

The spirit was distilled in the kinked copper stills for a fruity spirit, building the oily Tobermory style. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak for a honeyed sweetness. At this age the spirit is fresh and fruity, the wax and a green note bright. The cool, damp island air gives a slow, even maturation. The distillery was refurbished and its stills renewed between 2017 and 2019. Mull's maritime climate works into the maturing casks over the years. It is one of the oldest commercial distilleries in Scotland still working. Tobermory has distilled in the island's harbour town since 1798.

At a full 56.4% it is intense and layered. Honey, wax and a soft nut, and honeyed vanilla comes through from the ex-Bourbon. A green note and a gentle spice give it depth. A long, oily finish ends on orchard fruit. This is an unpeated malt from Mull's only distillery.