Tobermory 21 Years Old 1995 Cask #594 (BB&R)

Berry Bros & Rudd bottled this Tobermory matured to 21 year old from 1995, drawn from cask 594 and bottled at 49%. Tobermory, the unpeated malt of the Isle of Mull, comes from one of Scotland's oldest distilleries. The single malts are bottled without chill filtration at 46.3 percent or higher.

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. Beyond twenty years the malt grows deep and waxy, honey, dried fruit and nut over old oak. Sea air works into the island maturation, lending a faint saline lift. It is one of the oldest commercial distilleries in Scotland still working. Tobermory has distilled in the island's harbour town since 1798. The town of Tobermory was laid out by the British Fisheries Society a decade before the distillery came. The distillery's history is broken by long silences; its buildings once stored a local cheddar.

At cask strength 49% it is muscular. Green apple, citrus and a herbal lift, and honeyed vanilla comes through from the ex-Bourbon. The texture is oily and waxy, the fruit threaded through. A long, oily finish ends on orchard fruit. This is Tobermory's oily, unpeated island single malt.