Tomatin Selected Single Cask Bottling 14 Years Old 2002

This official Tomatin single malt matured to 14 year old from 2002, drawn from cask 33198 and bottled at 57.3%. A release of 300 bottles. Tomatin is the soft, fruity Highland malt of a distillery founded in 1897 near Inverness. By 1974 Tomatin ran twenty three stills and was the largest malt distillery in Scotland.

It was worked through onion stills for a light, fruity spirit, for the soft, fruity Highland make Tomatin is known for. Maturation in a fortified or wine cask lent red fruit and spice. Past a decade the fruit deepens into honey, apple and a soft spice. Refill oak lets the fruity Tomatin character lead, apple over honey. 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. Malt is bought in, the distillery's own floor maltings having closed in the 1980s.

At a hearty 57.3% it carries real weight. A mellow, fruity character, and the wine cask lends red berry and a dry spice. A baked apple and a gentle spice lift it. It finishes soft, fruity and clean. This is the softer side of the Highlands.