Tomatin 13 Years Old 2008 Cask #180388 + 1900161 (Murray McDavid)

Murray McDavid selected this Tomatin, a 13 year old release from 2008, drawn from cask 180388 + 1900161 and bottled at 47.5%. A release of 788 bottles. Tomatin, founded in 1897 in the Highland village of the same name, was once Scotland's largest malt distillery. The core is unpeated, with peated spirit made one week a year and bottled as Cu Bocan.

The spirit was distilled from unpeated malt in copper stills on Allt na Frithe water, giving the light, mellow spirit at its heart. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. Mid age brings a deeper honey and a riper orchard fruit. Years in oak round the spirit, the orchard fruit deepening with age. Cold, clean water runs down to the distillery from the hills above. Under Japanese stewardship the focus turned from sheer volume to quality.

At 47.5%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. Apple, pear and a soft honey, with the Pedro Ximenez lends raisin, date and treacle and the Oloroso gives dried fruit and a toasted nuttiness. The mouthfeel is soft, the fruit carried on a mellow body. A long, honeyed finish carries a fruity lift. This is a mellow Highland single malt from near Inverness.