Tobermory 33 Years Old 1972 Cask #09 (Moon-Import)

This is a Tobermory, picked by Moon-Import matured to 33 year old from 1972, drawn from cask 09 and bottled at 49%. Only 960 bottles were released. Tobermory is the unpeated malt of the island's only distillery, founded in 1798 by John Sinclair. The distillery makes two malts: the unpeated Tobermory and the peated Ledaig.

It was worked through the boil ball stills for an oily, fruity make, for the waxy, fruity spirit Tobermory is known for. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, soft oak that lets the waxy fruit lead. At over thirty years it is rich and waxy, tropical fruit, honey and old oak. Coastal warehousing lends a mineral edge to the fruity malt. Water is drawn from a private hill loch, the Gearr Abhainn, above the town. Its painted home town gives the unpeated malt its name. A rare, more heavily peated make has appeared under the name Iona, after a neighbouring isle. In dry summers the distillery has paused when its hill loch ran low.

At a natural 49% it is bold and full. A fruity, waxy sweetness, and vanilla and a soft oak come from the bourbon wood. A baked apple and a nutty note lift it. Wax and ripe fruit see out a long finish. This is a waxy, fruity island single malt.