Tobermory 20 Years Old 1994 Cask #166001 (Whisky-Doris)

Whisky-Doris selected this Tobermory, a 20 year old from 1994, drawn from cask 166001 and bottled at 48.5%. A release of 119 bottles. Tobermory is the unpeated single malt of Mull's only distillery, founded in 1798 in the island's painted harbour town. Burn Stewart revived the distillery in 1993, and Distell of South Africa bought it in 2013.

The spirit was distilled from unpeated malt in kinked copper stills on soft Mull water, giving the oily, fruity island make. A sherry cask wrapped the waxy spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Long ageing brings a deeper waxy, fruity character and a mellow oak. A patient maturation suits the oily, fruity Tobermory character. The distillery sits at the head of the bay, beneath a steep wooded hill. Both malts feed the Scottish Leader and Black Bottle blends as well as single malt. The distillery was refurbished and its stills renewed between 2017 and 2019.

At 48.5%, undiluted, it is rich and deep. Orchard fruit, wax and a nutty note, and sherried dried fruit and a nutty edge come through. Beneath it run orchard fruit, wax and a soft nut. It closes long, waxy and fruity. This is Tobermory, the unpeated malt of the Isle of Mull.