Tomatin 12 Years Old 2010 (Discovery)

This Tomatin was from the independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail matured to 12 year old from 2010 and bottled at 43%. Founded in 1897 high in the Monadhliath hills, Tomatin makes a soft, fruity Highland single malt. The core is unpeated, with peated spirit made one week a year and bottled as Cu Bocan.

The spirit was distilled slowly for the soft, fruity Tomatin make, building the approachable Tomatin style. A refill bourbon cask held it, keeping the fruit to the fore. Past a decade the fruit deepens into honey, apple and a soft spice. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the fruity, malty core over time. Under Japanese stewardship the focus turned from sheer volume to quality. The very long fermentation is central to the distillery's fruity character. The distillery sits beside the A9, the old road north to Inverness. Cu Bocan focuses on unusual cask finishes, from sherry to wine and beyond.

Reduced to 43%, it is soft. Apple, vanilla and a light spice, and the ex-Bourbon lends vanilla and a soft honey. Beneath it run apple, pear and a soft spice. It closes soft, fruity and warm. This is Tomatin, the fruity Highland malt.