Tobermory 23 Years Old 1972 De Viris Illustribus (Moon-Import)

A Tobermory single malt, bottled by Moon-Import, a 23 year old release from 1972 and bottled at 50%. A release of 600 bottles. Made on the Isle of Mull, Tobermory is the unpeated single malt of the island's sole distillery. The stills carry boil bulbs and an S shaped kink in the lyne arms, which raises reflux.

Distilled from unpeated malt in kinked copper stills on soft Mull water, giving the oily, fruity island make. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla beneath the fruit. At this age it is rich and oily, the fruit folded into a waxy, honeyed body. 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. Mull's maritime climate works into the maturing casks over the years.

Bottled at a cask strength 50%, it is intense. Orchard fruit, wax and a nutty note, and the refill bourbon lends a quiet vanilla. Beneath it run orchard fruit, wax and a soft nut. The close is long, fruit over a soft oak. This is Tobermory, the unpeated malt of the Isle of Mull.