Tomatin 31 Years Old 1989 (SMWS 11.41)

Bottled by Scotch Malt Whisky Society, this Tomatin matured to 31 year old from 1989, drawn from cask 11.41 and bottled at 50.8%. Only 251 bottles were released. Tomatin is the soft, fruity Highland malt of a distillery founded in 1897 near Inverness. 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 rested in ex-Bourbon oak for a honeyed sweetness. Very old Tomatin turns soft and profound, the fruit deep and the oak polished. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the fruity, malty core over time. The very long fermentation is central to the distillery's fruity character. The distillery sits beside the A9, the old road north to Inverness. Cu Bocan focuses on unusual cask finishes, from sherry to wine and beyond. Tomatin stands at over three hundred metres, among the highest in the land.

At a hearty 50.8% it carries real weight. Apple, vanilla and a light spice, and vanilla and a soft oak come from the bourbon wood. A baked apple and a gentle spice lift it. It finishes soft, fruity and clean. This is Tomatin's soft, fruity Highland style.