Tomatin 40 Years Old 1962 Old & Rare The Platinum Selection (Douglas Laing)

This Tomatin was from the independent bottler Douglas Laing matured to 40 year old from 1962 and bottled at 44%. A release of 186 bottles. Founded in 1897 high in the Monadhliath hills, Tomatin makes a soft, fruity Highland single malt. It was bought in 1986 by Takara Shuzo of Japan, the first Scotch distillery in Japanese hands.

Worked through onion stills for a light, fruity spirit, for the soft, fruity Highland make Tomatin is known for. A refill bourbon cask held it, keeping the fruit to the fore. Decades leave it deep and gentle, candied fruit and a waxy honey with great age. The unpeated spirit lets the wood and the fruit speak without smoke. 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 an approachable 44% it is soft and balanced. A mellow, fruity character, and the ex-Bourbon lends vanilla and a soft honey. Beneath it run apple, pear and a soft spice. It closes soft, fruity and warm. This is Tomatin, the fruity Highland malt.