Tomatin

The Tomatin 14-yo is just not fair … It’s just TOO good.  

 
There is not even a freeway off-ramp for the little town of Tomatin. But that’s OK, keeps the city-folk out. The entire population is less than 200, and since their founding in 1897, Tomatin Distillery has had to build special housing on site for employees who come from the surrounding countryside to work seasonally at the plant. But back in the 1970s, this little hamlet produced more Whiskey than anyplace else in Scotland. Well, that’s no longer true, but their Highland single-malt is still a core component of many of the finest blends, including two of their own: Antiquary and Talisman. 
 
Today, Tomatin is owned by mega-corp Takara Shuzo from Japan, where demand for their products is huge. But they stab off a select amount of their production for their own signature single-malt whiskey line across a range of ages and special editions.
 
The Tomatin 14YO is just not fair … not fair we say! It is just TOO good. This is a powerful, 46% ABV bottle of Highland single-malt perfection. All the elements are there … more than 12 years aging in ex-Bourbon casks, followed by 18 months in Port pipes. I mean, what else do you need to know, right? 
 
Tomatin always does a good job, but this one just speaks to us. It tastes like they have been making it for generations, but the 14YO Port wood finish was only added to their core line-up a few years ago. But it’s a keeper. And it fits right in with The Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, Macallan, and The Balvenie Double Wood — so if you like those, you should like the Tomatin too. But the Tomatin 14YO is served up and tastes every inch of its stronger 46% ABV, so the flavors seem to explode in the mouth in all the best ways.