Tomatin
Single Highland Malt ScotchWhisky
Tomatin, Inverness-shire, IV13 7YT Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)1808 511234 / Fax: +44 (0)1808 511373
Viewer's Comments about Tomatin
 Illicit
stills are part of the history of whisky distilling in Scotland.
If you probe into the history of the area around Tomatin,
you will find that whisky has almost certainly been distilled
there for centuries.
As a distilling site, illicit or otherwise, Tomatin goes back
to the 15th Century when drovers – men who drove their
cattle - would stop to fill their ram’s horns at the
still alongside the old laird’s house. This house was
part of the Tomatin Estate and was located where the modern
day distillery stands.
A
formal licensed distillery for the making of fine Scotch malt
whisky was first built on the current day site in 1897 by
the Tomatin Spey District Distillery Co Ltd, and revived in
1909 by the new Tomatin Distillers Co Ltd.
A 20-year expansion program started in the 1950s saw production
rise to some 12 million litres of alcohol a year by 1974,
making Tomatin the largest capacity Scotch whisky distillery
in the world at the time. During this period there were 23
pot stills in operation, this has since been reduced to 12
to enable a more efficient operation and a production capacity
of 120,250 litres of alcohol per week, 42 weeks a year, therefore
today’s distillery has a production capacity of 5,050500
litres of alcohol per year.
The distillery was acquired by Japanese shareholders in 1986,
who established the current Tomatin Distillery Company Limited,
and launched the modern era of whisky distilling in the Monadhliath
Mountains.
In
1995, we saw the acquisition of J & W Hardie Ltd and the
Antiquary brand from United Distillers. Today J & W Hardie
acts as the brand export company for Tomatin, dealing with
the production, logistics, sales and marketing of the branded
bottled goods.
J & W Hardie is also the owner of the Talisman Finest
Blended Scotch Whisky brand.
The distillery has always been an integral part of the local
community and the village now known as Tomatin was built around
the distillery and did not exist prior to its establishment
in 1897. The settlement of Tomatin, which in the Gaelic language
means ‘hill of the juniper’, was formed as a result
of the wealth that the distillery created in the surrounding
area.
Historically
Tomatin has been used as a filling malt by the major blending
companies in Scotland, although the company is now focused
on building a strong core range of single malts. The range
consists of a 12 year old, 18 year old, 25 year old and a
number of vintages. This range will be extended over the coming
year with a 30 and 40 year old and a number of specially selected
single cask bottlings.
 Tomatin
is one of the very few distilleries in Scotland to retain
its own cooperage, where our highly skilled cooper maintains
the casks in perfect condition. We feel this situation gives
us an advantage over our competitors as we are able to use
casks that are consistent in quality thus giving us a whisky
that maintains the same characteristics every time. We feel
so strongly about maintaining this tradition that we have
employed an apprentice cooper whom we hope will continue the
long tradition of coopering in Tomatin for many years to come.
Tomatin Single Highland Malt has a gentle hint of nuttiness
and a lightly peated flavour.
|
Courtesy
of Tomatin Distillery
|
TOMATIN
12 YEAR
SINGLE HIGHLAND SCOTCH |
Elegant and
airy, with a big smooth texture, the 12 year old Tomatin is classic
single Highland malt.
A true delight for discerning whisky drinkers, Tomatin is carefully
matured in traditional oak barrels to produce the lightly peated,
delicate flavour which charms connoisseurs.
Nose: The complex bouquet contains rich malt
and fruity aromas with just a hint of peatiness. Taste:
The palate is rewarded with a unique combination of
attractive flavours – a balance of apples, pears and malt,
with a gentle hint of nuttiness enhanced by the subtle use of
sherry wood. The result is a wonderfully rich and elegant taste
producing a long and satisfying finish. |
San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2004 – Silver
Medal
International Wine & Spirits Competition 2006 – Silver
Medal
International Wine & Spirits Comp 2007 – Silver Medal
|
Tomatin
Whisky Distillery
Visitor
Centre & Gift Shop
We’d love to see you at Tomatin’s Visitor Centre,
to share our passion for and secrets of whisky distilling
here in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. This four star
visitor attraction takes you to the very heart of whisky making.
Our friendly guides will welcome you and talk you through
the whole distilling process. You’ll meet Albert the
Excise Man and hear about whisky-loving angels. Best of all,
you’ll be given a free taste of Tomatin 12 year old
single Highland malt and have the opportunity for some retail
therapy afterwards.
Opening
Times
Currently open Monday to Friday 9.00 till 5.00. Tours, costing
£2.00 per person, are offered daily at 11.00am &
2.30pm. Booking is always advisable.
Our
Visitor Centre is open at weekends from Easter to the end
of October, although we regret that distillery tours are not
available.
The distillery is open for tours all year around, except for
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and 2 January.
Tour Frequency
Saturday
9.00am to 5.00 pm
Sunday 12.00pm to 4.30pm
Large Parties
Advance booking is essential for large parties. Call
the Visitor Centre at +44 (0)1808 51144 or send an email to
Marie.
Parking
There is plenty of parking, clearly signed, to the rear of
the Visitor Centre, with disabled parking just outside the
building, and wheelchair access to all parts of the whisky
tour.
Handicapped
Access
The tour offers wheelchair access to all areas and includes
handicapped restroom facilities in the Visitor Centre. Handicapped
parking is also available.
Available
throughout the day, everyday, are samples of the Tomatin 12
year old Single Highland Malt whisky and of the award-winning
Culloden Cream Liqueur. In our Visitor Centre you may relax
and watch our DVD presentation which gives an insight into
how our whisky is made.
The
Tomatin Whisky Presentation and Tasting Tour
An in-depth and comprehensive tour of the Distillery including
nosing and tasting Tomatin's aged Malts in our private Stillhouse
Suite. £30
per person.
-
Welcoming dram of the Tomatin 12 year
old Single Highland Malt
-
Viewing of our D.V.D. in the Stillhouse
Suite - showing our methods and some History of Tomatin
Distillery
-
In-depth guided Tour by one of our Managers,
including visit to Tomatin's own Cooperage
-
Nosing and Tasting Tomatin's award-winning
Whiskies
- Finally,
a visit inside one of our Bonded Warehouses
Tomatin Distillery Production Facts
-
Malt used in production – Optic
-
Production capacity – 5 Million
litres of Alcohol ( 2 million produced in 2006/2007)
-
12 pot Stills in operation – 12
wash backs
-
Water source – Alt-na- frith ( 'free
burn' is the English translation)
-
One single mash at Tomatin uses 7.92 tons
of malt which produces around 40,000 litres of wort for
fermentation. The wort in turn produces approximately
3250 litres of alcohol.
-
Oil fired bolier produces steam which
heats the pot stills
-
This first distillation takes approximately
6 hours and second 8 hours
Location
We’re one of the easiest distilleries in
Scotland to visit. Look at any map and you’ll see
us on the main A9 trunk route, just 16 miles south of the
city of Inverness, capital of the Highlands, and 16 miles
north of Aviemore and the spectacular Cairngorm National
Park. If you're taking the train, you can take it to either
Inverness or Aviemore, and then take a bus to Tomatin.
Just a few miles to the west lies the world famous Loch
Ness, with its secret depths and myths and monsters. We’re
also one of the highest, sitting at 1028 feet above sea
level deep in the Monadhliath Mountains; so easily accessible
and yet with a sense of isolation which adds to the character
of Tomatin.
So
whether you’re looking for walking, climbing, skiing,
shooting, extreme sports, shopping, conference facilities,
or just a relaxing break; whether you’re looking for
a hotel, bed and breakfast, guest house, hostel or camp
site, you’re looking at an ideal part of the Highlands.
Contact Us
Tomatin Distillery
Tomatin, Inverness-shire
IV13 7YT Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)1808 511234
Fax: +44 (0)1808 511373
E-mail: The
Tomatin Distillery |
Courtesy
of Tomatin Distillery |
|
