Tomatin Selected Single Cask Bottling 11 Years Old 2005

This Tomatin, an official release, an 11 year old Highland malt from 2005, drawn from cask 2698 and bottled at 56.2%. Just 248 bottles were filled. 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 run through the distillery's onion stills after a long fermentation, to build a fruity, gently spiced character. A refill bourbon cask held it, keeping the fruit to the fore. At a youthful age the orchard fruit is lively and the malt soft. The long fermentation lays down the fruit the cask then frames. The arrival of the Highland Railway in the 1890s made the distillery possible. 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.

At cask strength 56.2% it is full bodied. Orchard fruit and a gentle malt, and vanilla and a soft oak come from the bourbon wood. Soft orchard fruit and honey sit behind the cask. The close is soft, fruit over gentle oak. This is Tomatin's soft, fruity Highland style.