Tobermory 14 Years Old 1995 (Murray McDavid)

Murray McDavid selected this Tobermory, a 14 year old island malt from 1995 and bottled at 46%. Just 1200 bottles were filled. Tobermory is the unpeated malt of the island's only distillery, founded in 1798 by John Sinclair. It is one of Scotland's oldest distilleries, and the only one on its island.

It was made in the high reflux stills from unpeated barley, for a fruity, waxy make with a green lift. It was matured in ex-Bourbon oak, lending vanilla and honey. Around the mid teens the malt gains a fuller, waxier body. Sherry wood suits the oily make, lending dried fruit and a nutty depth. Burn Stewart revived production in 1993, and Distell bought the distillery in 2013. The stills carry boil bulbs and a kink in the lyne arms, which lifts the reflux. Water is drawn from a private hill loch, the Gearr Abhainn, above the town. Its painted home town gives the unpeated malt its name.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. Pear, oily malt and a green note, and vanilla and a soft oak come from the bourbon wood. Soft orchard fruit and wax sit behind the cask. It closes long, waxy and fruity. This is the fruity side of the Isle of Mull's distillery.