Tomatin 8 Years Old 2011 Fighting Fish (Jack Wiebers Whisky World)

Single malt Tomatin, an independent Jack Wiebers Whisky World bottling, aged 8 year old from 2011 and bottled at 57.7%. Just 208 bottles were filled. Set in the Highland hills south of Inverness, Tomatin has made single malt since 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 rested in ex-Bourbon oak for a honeyed sweetness. At this age the spirit is fresh and fruity, apple and pear bright. Long, gentle ageing turns the fresh fruit towards honey and soft spice. It closed in 1906 and reopened in 1909, finding its feet over the following decades. The Antiquary blend came into the group through the blender J and W Hardie. 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.

At a hearty 57.7% it carries real weight. Apple, vanilla and a light spice, and the refill bourbon lends a quiet vanilla. Soft orchard fruit and honey sit behind the cask. The close is soft, fruit over gentle oak. This is the soft, fruity Highland malt of Tomatin.