Tomatin 18 Years Old 1994 (Authentic Collection)

This is a Tomatin, chosen and bottled by Cadenhead's, an 18 year old from 1994 and bottled at 54.1%. 234 bottles in all. Tomatin, founded in 1897 in the Highland village of the same name, was once Scotland's largest malt distillery. 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. By this age the soft spirit rounds into orchard fruit and a gentle oak. Refill oak lets the fruity Tomatin character lead, apple over honey. 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. Cold, clean water runs down to the distillery from the hills above. Under Japanese stewardship the focus turned from sheer volume to quality.

Undiluted at 54.1%, it is layered. A mellow, fruity character, and honeyed vanilla comes through from the ex-Bourbon. A baked apple and a gentle spice lift it. It finishes soft, fruity and clean. This is the softer side of the Highlands.