Tomatin
2011 - G&M Discovery
- 43
- 70cl
- Taste: 2
- Speyside
Tomatin Distillery is situated in the Monadhliath Mountains just south of Inverness. Initially founded in 1897 as the Tomatin Spey Distillery Co. Ltd, they faced challenges due to the economic downturn and the impact of World War I. However, they ultimately began to thrive, at one point becoming Scotland's biggest malt distillery. In the mid-1980s, the company faced liquidation, prompting a takeover by the Japanese conglomerate Takara Shuzo, which remains...
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Tomatin Distillery is situated in the Monadhliath Mountains just south of Inverness. Initially founded in 1897 as the Tomatin Spey Distillery Co. Ltd, they faced challenges due to the economic downturn and the impact of World War I. However, they ultimately began to thrive, at one point becoming Scotland's biggest malt distillery. In the mid-1980s, the company faced liquidation, prompting a takeover by the Japanese conglomerate Takara Shuzo, which remains the owner of Tomatin to this day.
Today, they are a little smaller, producing a light bodied spirit or, as they put it, delicate flavours and a rich and mellow style. Alongside the Tomatin range, the distillery also produces Cu Bocan, a lightly peated single malt, only produced for a week in the winter period.
This single malt has been bottled by Gordon and MacPhail, an independent bottler in Elgin. It is part of their Discovery range. Designed to highlight and introduce whisky drinkers to the core flavour profiles of single malts, the Discovery range is excellent for people wanting to try something different. Using a variety of distilleries their aim is to showcase the flavours whisky develops using either Bourbon Casks, Sherry Casks or Peated Malt. Gordon and MacPhail mature the spirit using their own casks. They only bottle the whisky when they believe it’s ready and never before.
This Tomatin bottling was distilled in 2011, matured in bourbon casks, before being bottled in 2023. It has ripe tropical fruit aromas with green apple and sweet vanilla. Smooth flavours of citrus, white peach and melon oak and subtle dried herbs are revealed on the finish.
Tasting Rating Guide
1: Light, good for beginners - an aperitif on a summers day, i.e. Glengoyne, Auchentoshan
2: Also good for beginners but with more depth and body - a little stronger than 1, ie. Glenmorangie, Speyburn
3: A dram for everyone, a little more complex so the palate requires a little more experience, i.e. Cragganmore, Macallan
4: A stronger spirit, a big whisky with lots of character and body, excellent after dinner, i.e. Lagavulin, Laphroaig