Tomatin 25 Years Old 1994 The Clans Label (Sansibar)

A Tomatin single malt, selected and bottled by Sansibar matured to 25 year old from 1994 and bottled at 50%. Only 188 bottles were released. Tomatin is the soft, fruity Highland malt of a distillery founded in 1897 near Inverness. By 1974 Tomatin ran twenty three stills and was the largest malt distillery in Scotland.

It was made in copper stills from unpeated barley, for a fruity, mellow make. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, soft oak that lets the fruit lead. Beyond twenty years the malt grows deep and honeyed, dried fruit and oak spice over orchard fruit. Dunnage and racked warehousing on site gives a steady maturation. 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. The very long fermentation is central to the distillery's fruity character.

At cask strength 50% it is full bodied. Pear, honey and a malty note, and honeyed vanilla comes through from the ex-Bourbon. The texture is soft and round, the fruit lifted by honey. The finish runs gentle, fruity and mellow. This is a soft, approachable Highland malt.