Tomatin 21 Years Old 1991 Cask #51 (BB&R)

Berry Bros & Rudd selected this Tomatin, a 21 year old release from 1991, drawn from cask 51 and bottled at 54.8%. 251 bottles in all. Tomatin is the soft, fruity Highland malt of a distillery founded in 1897 near Inverness. 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 from unpeated malt in copper stills on Allt na Frithe water, giving the light, mellow spirit at its heart. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, with vanilla and a soft apple. Past twenty years the spirit turns honeyed and full while staying soft. Years in oak round the spirit, the orchard fruit deepening with age. For most of its life the distillery rarely ran to its full capacity. 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.

Undiluted at 54.8%, it is layered. Apple, pear and a soft honey, and honeyed vanilla comes through from the ex-Bourbon. A dried fruit and a soft oak give it depth. Apple, honey and a soft oak see out the finish. This is a mellow Highland single malt from near Inverness.