Tomatin Distillery Exclusive – Single Cask 12 Years Old 2005

An official Tomatin single malt, a 12 year old release from 2005, drawn from cask 2709 and bottled at 58.3%. Tomatin, founded in 1897 in the Highland village of the same name, was once Scotland's largest malt distillery. Today it works twelve stills, having shifted from blend volume to single malt.

The spirit was made in copper stills from unpeated barley, for a fruity, mellow make. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla beneath the orchard fruit. Around the mid teens the malt gains a fuller honey and ripe fruit. Sherry wood suits the soft make, lending dried fruit and a nutty depth. 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. The make is light and fruity, easy to like and easy to drink.

At a hearty 58.3% it carries real weight. Pear, honey and a malty note, and ex-Bourbon oak gives vanilla and a light apple. The texture is soft and round, the fruit lifted by honey. The finish runs gentle, fruity and mellow. This is a fruity Highland single malt from the Monadhliath hills.