Tomatin Fire

An official Tomatin single malt, bottled at 46%. Only 6000 bottles were released. Tomatin, founded in 1897 in the Highland village of the same name, was once Scotland's largest malt distillery. Water comes from the Allt na Frithe, the burn of the deer, in the Monadhliath hills.

It was made in copper stills from unpeated barley, for a fruity, mellow make. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, with vanilla and a soft apple. Without an age statement, the malt is light, fruity and mellow. Sherry wood suits the soft make, lending dried fruit and a nutty depth. It closed in 1906 and reopened in 1909, finding its feet over the following decades. The Antiquary blend came into the group through the blender J and W Hardie. 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.

At 46% it is supple and fruity. Pear, honey and a malty note, and ex-Bourbon oak gives vanilla and a light apple. The mouthfeel is soft, the fruit carried on a mellow body. A long, honeyed finish carries a fruity lift. This is a gentle, fruity Highland single malt.