Tomatin Distillery Exclusive 6 Years Old 2019

A distillery bottling of Tomatin, a 6 year old Highland malt from 2019, drawn from cask 1782 and bottled at 60.6%. Founded in 1897 high in the Monadhliath hills, Tomatin makes a soft, fruity Highland single malt. The core is unpeated, with peated spirit made one week a year and bottled as Cu Bocan.

The spirit was distilled from unpeated malt in copper stills on Allt na Frithe water, giving the light, mellow spirit at its heart. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, soft oak that lets the fruit lead. At a youthful age the orchard fruit is lively and the malt soft. Years in oak round the spirit, the orchard fruit deepening with age. 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 60.6% it carries real weight. Apple, pear and a soft honey, and the bourbon cask adds vanilla and a gentle sweetness. It is fruity and soft, the fruit and oak well matched. The finish is rounded, honeyed and gentle. This is a soft, approachable Highland malt.