Tomatin 1988 Cù Bòcan

This Cu Bocan single malt, a 28 year old release from 1988 and bottled at 51.5%. Just 2200 bottles were filled. Cù Bòcan is the peated single malt of Tomatin distillery, made in the Highland hills south of Inverness. A very long fermentation, among the longest in Scotch, builds the fruity character.

Run through the distillery's onion stills from peated barley, to build a smoky character on the fruity Tomatin spirit. A sherry cask wrapped the smoke in dried fruit and a nutty depth. At over thirty years the smoke is faint over waxy, tropical fruit and old oak. Soft peat smoke and active oak settle together over the years. 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.

At a full 51.5% it is bold yet fruity. Peat smoke, fruit and a sweet malt, and raisin and a nutty sherry depth build. Beneath the smoke run apple, honey and a soft spice. It closes on a soft smoke and a warm fruit. This is the peated single malt of Tomatin, Cu Bocan.