Tomatin 15 Years Old (52%)

An official Tomatin single malt, aged 15 year old and bottled at 52%. The outturn was 3150 bottles. Tomatin, founded in 1897 in the Highland village of the same name, was once Scotland's largest malt distillery. A very long fermentation, among the longest in Scotch, builds the fruity character.

Distilled from unpeated malt in copper stills on Allt na Frithe water, giving the light, mellow spirit at its heart. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla beneath the orchard fruit. By this age the soft spirit rounds into orchard fruit and a gentle oak. A patient maturation suits the soft, fruity Tomatin character. Malt is bought in, the distillery's own floor maltings having closed in the 1980s. For most of its life the distillery rarely ran to its full capacity. The make is light and fruity, easy to like and easy to drink. Special releases like Decades and Warehouse 6 have marked the distillery's milestones.

At 52%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. Apple, pear and a soft honey, and the ex-Bourbon lends vanilla and a soft honey. The texture is soft and round, the fruit lifted by honey. The finish runs gentle, fruity and mellow. This is a fruity Highland single malt from the Monadhliath hills.