Tomatin 19 Years Old 1974 The Cooper’s Choice (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd.)

This Tomatin was from the independent bottler The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd, a 19 year old Highland malt from 1974 and bottled at 43%. Founded in 1897 high in the Monadhliath hills, Tomatin makes a soft, fruity Highland single malt. By 1974 Tomatin ran twenty three stills and was the largest malt distillery in Scotland.

It was run through the distillery's onion stills after a long fermentation, to build a fruity, gently spiced character. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla beneath the orchard fruit. Long ageing brings a deeper dried fruit character and a soft oak spice. The long fermentation lays down the fruit the cask then frames. 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. Tomatin stands at over three hundred metres, among the highest in the land. An old cattle drovers' road ran through Tomatin, and whisky was made here long before the distillery.

At 43% it is gentle, fruity and mellow. Orchard fruit and a gentle malt, and the ex-Bourbon lends vanilla and a soft honey. It is gentle and fruity, the soft spirit shining through. A fruity, lightly spiced finish lingers. This is Tomatin, the fruity Highland malt.