Tomatin 12 Year Old French Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Situated over 1,000 feet above sea level in the foothills of the Monadhliath Mountains, Tomatin Distillery is one of the highest distilleries in Scotland. Its origins date back to the 15th century when drovers, bringing their cattle over the high mountain passes to the Tomatin market, filled their flasks from a still hidden at the Old Lairds House, which is situated adjacent to the distillery. Since that time, centuries of isolation and generations of family tradition (some workers at the distillery are the fifth generation of their family to work there) have created a distillery rooted in Scottish heritage and tradition.Tomatin Single Malt Scotch Whisky is made from plump, Scottish barley. After the barley is harvested, it is mashed and fermented before being distilled twice through Tomatins copper-pot stills. The stills have a round, flat shape that gives the whisky a rounder and sweeter flavor profile, notes Douglas Campbell, Tomatins master distiller. Campbell, who began working at the distillery in 1961, joined Tomatin as an accountant, doing clerical work. "After that, the managing director, John McDonald, took me under his wing and gave me the chance to work in different parts of the distillery. I did mashing for three or four years, distilling for a couple of years, worked in the warehouses. Eventually, I was one of the charge hands getting casks ready for dispatch."Campbell has over fifty years of experience at Tomatin Distillery. "My father worked here as a cooper, my wife worked here for 10 years as secretary for the managing director, and my son works here now in the warehouse. I was born in Tomatin, I belong to Tomatin."Once Campbell has distilled the whisky, Tomatin 12 Year Old French Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky is matured for nine years in ex-bourbon hogshead casks before spending an additional three years in French oak casks sourced from European cooperages including Lafite, Vicard and Seguin Moreau. These special casks, which previously contained wine from Bacalhoa winery (formerly owned by Rothschild), were then de-charred and re-charred before being filled with Tomatin whisky, giving the whisky a semi-sweet nose of fresh biscuits and coconut, along with aromas of peaches, candied nuts and hard candy. The palate is extremely delicate, with notes of fruitcake, sherry, cloves and butterscotch, and leads to a refreshing, simple finish accented by fresh cream, baked apples and pie crust.Only 12,000 bottles of this whisky, which is only available in North America, were ever produced pick up a bottle today!