Tomatin 44 Years Old 1967 Cask #HH 7993 (Hunter Hamilton)

From Hunter Hamilton comes this Tomatin, a 44 year old Highland malt from 1967, drawn from cask HH 7993 and bottled at 51.9%. Tomatin is a Highland single malt distilled in the hills south of Inverness, where the distillery was founded in 1897. 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. A sherry cask wrapped the soft spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. At over thirty years it is rich and mellow, tropical fruit, honey and old oak. A patient maturation suits the soft, fruity Tomatin character. 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 a hearty 51.9% it carries real weight. Apple, pear and a soft honey, and the Oloroso gives dried fruit and a toasted nuttiness. 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.