Tomatin 19 Years Old 1996 Cask #91621 (Ian Macleod)

Bottled by Ian Macleod, this Tomatin, a 19 year old from 1996, drawn from cask 91621 and bottled at 46%. 623 bottles in all. Tomatin, founded in 1897 in the Highland village of the same name, was once Scotland's largest malt distillery. The distillery was founded in 1897 by a local company, taking its name from the village, Gaelic for hill of the juniper.

The spirit was distilled slowly for the soft, fruity Tomatin make, building the approachable Tomatin style. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. Long ageing brings a deeper dried fruit character and a soft oak spice. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the fruity, malty core over time. 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. The arrival of the Highland Railway in the 1890s made the distillery possible.

At 46% it is clean and fruity. Apple, vanilla and a light spice, and the Oloroso lends raisin, walnut and a dried fruit richness. Soft orchard fruit and honey sit behind the cask. The close is soft, fruit over gentle oak. This is Tomatin's soft, fruity Highland style.