Tomatin 27 Years Old 1993 Cask #6811 (Connoisseurs Choice)

A Tomatin single malt, selected and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, a 27 year old release from 1993, drawn from cask 6811 and bottled at 58.7%. Only 555 bottles were released. Tomatin is the soft, fruity Highland malt of a distillery founded in 1897 near Inverness. The core is unpeated, with peated spirit made one week a year and bottled as Cu Bocan.

The spirit was distilled from unpeated malt in copper stills on Allt na Frithe water, giving the light, mellow spirit at its heart. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness to the soft make. At this age it is rounded and mellow, the fruit folded into a honeyed body. Years in oak round the spirit, the orchard fruit deepening with age. 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.

At cask strength 58.7% it is full bodied. Apple, pear and a soft honey, and the Oloroso lends raisin, walnut and a dried fruit richness. It is fruity and soft, the fruit and oak well matched. The finish is rounded, honeyed and gentle. This is a soft, approachable Highland malt.