Tomatin 12 Year Old, Highland Single Malt Whisky, 43% vol

Officially registered as the Tomatin Spey District Distillery in 1897, although there is thought to have been illicit whisky production in the area since the 1700s, it lasted only a few years before closing in 1906. Three years later in 1909 it reopened under new more experienced ownership as the New Tomatin Distillers Company Ltd, and production started in earnest.

They expanded like no other distillery, from two stills up to 23 stills by 1974, to have the largest output of any malt distillery in the world. Despite Tomatin being the largest and most efficient high-tech distillery, it closed in 1984 caught up in many of the distillery closures during the 1980s/90s recession. Fortunately, this was short-lived reopening in early 1986 as Tomatin Distillery Co. Ltd under the new joint Japanese ownership of Takara Shzo and Okura & Co. Having historically produced for the blended Scotch whisky market, they moved their attention to producing their own single malts, reducing their still count down to 12. Sourcing soft water from Alt-na-Frith burn, their tall, slim stills give a house style that is light, fruity and unpeated. They also produce a significant range of richer and more complex limited and prestige releases aged in interesting previous fill casks.