Tomatin 25 Years Old (43%)

This official Tomatin single malt, a 25 year old and bottled at 43%. Set in the Highland hills south of Inverness, Tomatin has made single malt since 1897. The distillery was founded in 1897 by a local company, taking its name from the village, Gaelic for hill of the juniper.

The spirit was distilled slowly for the soft, fruity Tomatin make, building the approachable Tomatin style. A refill bourbon cask held it, keeping the fruit to the fore. Beyond twenty years the malt grows deep and honeyed, dried fruit and oak spice over orchard fruit. Long, gentle ageing turns the fresh fruit towards honey and soft spice. The very long fermentation is central to the distillery's fruity character. The distillery sits beside the A9, the old road north to Inverness. Cu Bocan focuses on unusual cask finishes, from sherry to wine and beyond. Tomatin stands at over three hundred metres, among the highest in the land.

At an approachable 43% it is soft and balanced. Apple, vanilla and a light spice, and honeyed vanilla comes through from the ex-Bourbon. It is gentle and fruity, the soft spirit shining through. A fruity, lightly spiced finish lingers. This is the soft, fruity Highland malt of Tomatin.