Tomatin 25 Years Old 1995 Cask #DL 13909 (Old Particular)

Bottled by Douglas Laing, this Tomatin, a 25 year old Highland malt from 1995, drawn from cask DL 13909 and bottled at 55.2%. Only 267 bottles were released. Tomatin is a Highland single malt distilled in the hills south of Inverness, where the distillery was founded in 1897. The core is unpeated, with peated spirit made one week a year and bottled as Cu Bocan.

The spirit was distilled slowly for the soft, fruity Tomatin make, building the approachable Tomatin style. It was matured in ex-Bourbon oak, lending vanilla and a soft honey. Beyond twenty years the malt grows deep and honeyed, dried fruit and oak spice over orchard fruit. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the fruity, malty core over time. Malt is bought in, the distillery's own floor maltings having closed in the 1980s. For most of its life the distillery rarely ran to its full capacity.

Bottled at a cask strength 55.2%, it is rich. Apple, vanilla and a light spice, and the bourbon cask adds vanilla and a gentle sweetness. 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.