Tobermory 11 Years Old 2008 Cask #1626646 (Duncan Taylor)

Duncan Taylor selected this Tobermory, aged 11 year old from 2008, drawn from cask 1626646 and bottled at 54.2%. 83 bottles in all. Tobermory, the unpeated malt of the Isle of Mull, comes from one of Scotland's oldest distilleries. It is one of Scotland's oldest distilleries, and the only one on its island.

It was drawn off stills with their S shaped lyne arms, for a medium bodied, fruity spirit. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, soft oak that lets the waxy fruit lead. Younger here, it keeps a fruity, oily freshness with a herbal lift. Long maturation turns the green young spirit towards honey and ripe fruit. Water is drawn from a private hill loch, the Gearr Abhainn, above the town. Its painted home town gives the unpeated malt its name. A rare, more heavily peated make has appeared under the name Iona, after a neighbouring isle. In dry summers the distillery has paused when its hill loch ran low.

At cask strength 54.2% it is muscular. Green apple, citrus and a herbal lift, and ex-Bourbon oak gives vanilla and a light sweetness. The texture is oily and waxy, the fruit threaded through. The finish is deep, waxy and nutty. This is Tobermory's oily, unpeated island single malt.