Tomatin 15 Years Old Sestante Import (G&M)

Single malt Tomatin, an independent Gordon & MacPhail bottling, aged 15 year old and bottled at 40%. Set in the Highland hills south of Inverness, Tomatin has made single malt since 1897. It was bought in 1986 by Takara Shuzo of Japan, the first Scotch distillery in Japanese hands.

Worked through onion stills for a light, fruity spirit, for the soft, fruity Highland make Tomatin is known for. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, with vanilla and a soft apple. Mid age brings a deeper honey and a riper orchard fruit. Refill oak lets the fruity Tomatin character lead, apple over honey. Cold, clean water runs down to the distillery from the hills above. 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 40%, it is soft. A mellow, fruity character, and honeyed vanilla comes through from the ex-Bourbon. It is gentle and fruity, the soft spirit shining through. A fruity, lightly spiced finish lingers. This is the soft, fruity Highland malt of Tomatin.