2007 Gordon & Macphail Tomatin Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Unusual to find a Tomatin at cask strength, this one was released by indie bottlers, Gordon & Macphail and is non chill-filtered. Distilled in 2007 and bottled in 2016 after maturation in 1st fill Bourbon barrels. Expect a fruity, spicy malt.

Notes from the bottler... Nose without Water: Sweet vanilla and almond aromas mingle with hints of toffee apple and cocoa powder. A touch of lemon meringue pie combines with toasted malt notes. Palate without Water: Peppery initially with fresh baked banana cake, roasted walnut, and lime flavours; these are complemented by hints of chocolate. Nose with Water: Sweet vanilla aromas lead to strawberry and mango followed by hint of lemon sherbet. Palate with Water: Initially sweet followed by pepper. Mango, apricot, and pineapple flavours develop and are accompanied by toasted oak. A lime citrus edge is present. Body: Light to medium. Finish: Long; fruity and slightly drying. 60% Alc./Vol.

Tomatin was the first Scottish distillery to be wholly owned by a Japanese company. The seventies brought about a major expansion programme. Capacity was boosted to twenty-three stills, making it the biggest malt distillery in Scotland at that time at five million gallons annual production. During the Scotch whisky boom years - 1973 to 1984 - Tomatin's malt was primarily used in blends. When demand decreased in the early 1980s, eleven stills were shut down and eventually removed in 2000. Today, with twelve stills in operation, Tomatin remains one of the country's largest malt distilleries.