Tomatin 10 Years Old 2012 Cask #90422 (Riegger’s Selection)

This is a Tomatin, chosen and bottled by Riegger's Selection, a 10 year old Highland malt from 2012, drawn from cask 90422 and bottled at 56.4%. The outturn was 249 bottles. Founded in 1897 high in the Monadhliath hills, Tomatin makes a soft, fruity Highland single malt. The distillery was founded in 1897 by a local company, taking its name from the village, Gaelic for hill of the juniper.

The spirit was distilled slowly for the soft, fruity Tomatin make, building the approachable Tomatin style. It was matured in ex-Bourbon oak, lending vanilla and a soft honey. At this age the spirit is fresh and fruity, apple and pear bright. Long, gentle ageing turns the fresh fruit towards honey and soft spice. Malt is bought in, the distillery's own floor maltings having closed in the 1980s. For most of its life the distillery rarely ran to its full capacity. The make is light and fruity, easy to like and easy to drink.

Undiluted at 56.4%, it is layered. Apple, vanilla and a light spice, and the refill bourbon lends a quiet vanilla. Beneath it run apple, pear and a soft spice. It closes soft, fruity and warm. This is the softer side of the Highlands.