🥃 Tomatin
Highland distillery and single malt whisky brand in Tomatin, founded in 1897; owned by Japan's Takara Shuzo since 1986; the peated Cù Bòcan has been made since 2013.
Tomatin is a distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand in the village of the same name, between Aviemore and Inverness in the Highlands. It was founded in 1897, and since 1986 it has been owned by the Japanese company Takara Shuzo. Tomatin became the first Scottish distillery under Japanese control, and its whisky is classified as Highland.
History. According to Whiskypedia, the original Tomatin Spey Distillery Company closed in 1906, and Tomatin Distillers Co. restarted production in 1909. After an expansion in 1974 the distillery had 23 stills and a capacity of 10 million litres. Because of low demand the company went into liquidation in 1985–1986. Japanese customers Takara Shuzo and Okura bought it, and Marubeni took over Okura's stake in 1998. The number of stills was later reduced, but sources differ on the date (2000 or 2002) and on the current number (12 or 10).
How it's made. Water comes from Alt-na Frith (the Free Burn). Tomatin has its own cooperage and uses first-fill bourbon and sherry casks. The whisky is mostly unpeated, but a batch with 12 ppm peat is made each month; the peated Cù Bòcan appeared in 2013.
Range. A fourteen-year-old single malt was introduced in 2004, and the peated Cù Bòcan in 2013. Other versions are listed on the producer's website.
Why it matters to you. The owner is Japanese, but the whisky is Scottish: the 2009 law requires distillation and maturation in Scotland for at least three years, in casks of up to 700 litres. The age on the label refers to the youngest whisky in the bottle. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1897 (Tomatin Spey Distillery Co); closed 1906, reopened 1909 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Highland) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | malted barley; Alt-na Frith water |
| Distillation method | twice, copper stills; sources give different numbers of stills (10 or 12) |
| Cask type | first-fill bourbon and sherry casks |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40% ABV by law |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Sherry, 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Highland whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Peated whisky, 🥃 Laphroaig, 🥃 Laphroaig, 🥃 Edradour, 🥃 Edradour, 🥃 Glenfiddich, 🥃 Glenfiddich, 🥃 The Dalmore, 🥃 The Dalmore
Frequently asked questions
Is Tomatin a Japanese whisky?
No. The owner is Japanese, Takara Shuzo, but the whisky is made in Scotland under the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009. Tomatin became the first Scottish distillery under Japanese control.
Where is Tomatin located?
In the village of Tomatin in Inverness-shire, between Aviemore and Inverness, in the Highlands.
Why was Tomatin the largest in 1974?
The number of stills rose to 23, and capacity to 10 million litres a year. Difford's Guide calls it the largest distillery in the world at that time.
Does Tomatin have peat?
The main profile is unpeated, but a batch with 12 ppm is made each month; the peated Cù Bòcan appeared in 2013.
What does the name Tomatin mean?
According to Difford's Guide, it is said to mean 'hill of the juniper bush'.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
Similar
🥃 Glenglassaugh · 🥃 Glengoyne · 🥃 Blair Athol · 🥃 Loch Lomond Distillery · 🥃 Torabhaig · 🥃 Aberfeldy
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Tomatin Distillery (1897, Highland, Takara Shuzo, 1974 expansion, Alt-na Frith water, Cù Bòcan 2013)
- Difford's Guide: Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd (1897, liquidation, Takara Shuzo 1986, own cooperage, 12 ppm peated spirit, J&W Hardie)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)