Tomatin 9 Years Old 2015 Cask #300033 (James Eadie)

James Eadie selected this Tomatin, a 9 year old Highland malt from 2015, drawn from cask 300033 and bottled at 56.2%. The outturn was 289 bottles. Tomatin is a Highland single malt distilled in the hills south of Inverness, where the distillery was founded in 1897. Tomatin malt long fed blends such as The Antiquary and The Talisman.

It was made in copper stills from unpeated barley, for a fruity, mellow make. It was matured in ex-Bourbon oak, lending vanilla and a soft honey. Younger here, it keeps a light, fruity freshness over soft honey. Dunnage and racked warehousing on site gives a steady maturation. 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. Cold, clean water runs down to the distillery from the hills above. Under Japanese stewardship the focus turned from sheer volume to quality.

At its natural 56.2% it is concentrated. Pear, honey and a malty note, and honeyed vanilla comes through from the ex-Bourbon. The mouthfeel is soft, the fruit carried on a mellow body. A long, honeyed finish carries a fruity lift. This is a mellow Highland single malt from near Inverness.