Tobermory 20 Years Old 1995 Cask #DL 10813 (Old Particular)

Douglas Laing selected this Tobermory, a 20 year old from 1995, drawn from cask DL 10813 and bottled at 51.5%. 288 bottles in all. Tobermory is the unpeated malt of the island's only distillery, founded in 1798 by John Sinclair. The single malts are bottled without chill filtration at 46.3 percent or higher.

Distilled from unpeated malt in kinked copper stills on soft Mull water, giving the oily, fruity island make. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, soft oak that lets the waxy fruit lead. Past twenty years the spirit turns honeyed and waxy while keeping its fruit. A patient maturation suits the oily, fruity Tobermory character. 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. Mull's maritime climate works into the maturing casks over the years. It is one of the oldest commercial distilleries in Scotland still working.

At its natural 51.5% it is concentrated. Orchard fruit, wax and a nutty note, and the refill bourbon lends a quiet vanilla. A baked apple and a nutty note lift it. The finish is deep, waxy and nutty. This is Tobermory, the unpeated malt of the Isle of Mull.