The Tomatin 30 Years Old is a single malt from the Highland whisky distillery of Tomatin. It is released in small batches. The whisky is matured for three decades in a combination of ex-bourbon and traditional oak casks. It sits within Tomatin’s Prestige Collection, which also currently includes a 36 Years Old and a 50 Years Old.
Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands, about half way between Aviemore and Inverness. It was founded in 1897 by a group of Inverness businessmen and was called Tomatin Spey. It only became Tomatin, the name of the local village, in 1907. Tomatin is currently owned by the Takara Shuzo Corporation, who purchased the distillery in 1986 after the previous ownership had been liquidated.
Tomatin is a large distillery with a current annual capacity of five million litres. Historically most of this has been produced for the blending market. However, in recent years Takara Shuzo have invested heavily in introducing and expanding a single malt range. This includes a number of Tomatin expressions, plus the Cù Bòcan range. This is a peaty version of Tomatin that is produced for a short period each year.
The Tomatin 30 Years Old is bottled at 46% ABV with natural colour and without chill filtering. You should expect to pay around £600 for a 70cl bottle. This will be supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity and Batch Number.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is bright gold and the nose is elegant, fruity and oozes class. Aromas of vanilla fudge and fairground toffee apples lead the way. Then comes orange marmalade and hints of dried pineapple, guava and white peach. Add in a pinch of white pepper and background floral aromas of hibiscus and dusty dried rose petals.
On the palate this whisky has a lovely velvety and silky quality. Things kick off with prominent ripe and juicy tropical fruit. This is much more luscious and forward than on the nose. The white peach is especially evident. Then come more dusty spices and that dusty dried rose petal note again. Everything seems more emphasised.
These initial fruity, spicy and floral characteristics are supported and accentuated by further notes. These include fresh vanilla pod, cinnamon sugar and crumbly sugary fudge. Hints of dried red apple and bitter orange sit in the background herbal bitter. Final hints of honey and beeswax, plus creamy milk chocolate add further depth and complexity.
The finish is of decent length. The lovely sweetness and fruitiness continues before beginning to fade. This allows some drying oak and old cigar box with faded hints of tobacco to come through. A final hint of dried orange zest and cocoa powder come through right at the end.
What’s The Verdict?
The Tomatin 30 Years Old is an elegant whisky and one that clearly showing its age. This is especially true on the finish. A balanced drying spiciness combined with a vivid and expressive fruitiness with just enough dusty wood spice. We would say that if you are in the market for an older whisky, this offers a complete classic Highland whisky at a decent price. Very classy with lots of character in the glass. The balance of spirit, wood and age is spot on.
