Tomatin 15 Years Old 1970 (Connoisseurs Choice)

A Tomatin single malt, selected and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, aged 15 year old from 1970 and bottled at 40%. Set in the Highland hills south of Inverness, Tomatin has made single malt since 1897. Tomatin malt long fed blends such as The Antiquary and The Talisman.

It was made in copper stills from unpeated barley, for a fruity, mellow make. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla beneath the orchard fruit. Mid age brings a deeper honey and a riper orchard fruit. Dunnage and racked warehousing on site gives a steady maturation. The Antiquary blend came into the group through the blender J and W Hardie. 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. Special releases like Decades and Warehouse 6 have marked the distillery's milestones.

At 40% it is smooth and fruity. Pear, honey and a malty note, and the refill bourbon lends a quiet vanilla. It is fruity and soft, the fruit and oak well matched. The finish is rounded, honeyed and gentle. This is a soft, approachable Highland malt.