The Teuchter 18 Years Old DeDr (Decadent Drinks)

Decadent Drinks selected this Tomatin matured to 18 year old, drawn from cask Batch 3 and bottled at 47.2%. A release of 436 bottles. Founded in 1897 high in the Monadhliath hills, Tomatin makes a soft, fruity Highland single malt. 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. Maturation in a sherry cask laid dried fruit over the fruit. Past a decade the fruit deepens into honey, apple and a soft spice. Years in oak round the spirit, the orchard fruit deepening with age. The arrival of the Highland Railway in the 1890s made the distillery possible. 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.

Bottled at a cask strength 47.2%, it is rich. Apple, pear and a soft honey, and the Oloroso lends raisin, walnut and a dried fruit richness. A dried fruit and a soft oak give it depth. Apple, honey and a soft oak see out the finish. This is a mellow Highland single malt from near Inverness.