Tomatin

Active

Highland · Speyside-adjacent Highland · Est. 1897 · Tomatin Distillery Co. Ltd. (Takara Shuzo Co.)

Expressions

With Tasting Notes

100%

Completeness

About

A large Highland distillery south of Inverness, founded in 1897 and once the largest in Scotland with 23 stills and capacity exceeding 12M LPA during the 1970s boom. Located in the village of Tomatin at 315 meters elevation, making it one of Scotland's highest distilleries. Became the first Scottish distillery to be owned by a Japanese company when Takara Shuzo acquired it in 1986 (predating Suntory's and other Japanese acquisitions). Now operates 12 stills and produces a honeyed, gentle, approachable Highland malt. The core range includes 12, 14, and 18-year-old expressions, plus the Cu Bocan peated range. Once almost entirely feeding blends, Tomatin has successfully repositioned as a quality single malt brand. Its combination of scale, heritage, and Japanese ownership makes it a fascinating bridge between Scottish and Japanese whisky cultures.

Production Details

Owner

Tomatin Distillery Co. Ltd.

Parent Company

Takara Shuzo Co.

Status

Active

Founded

1897

Still Type

Pot

Stills

Capacity

5.0M LPA

Water Source

Allt-na-Frith (Free Burn)

Website ↗

Core Range9

Cu Bocan SignatureCore

NAS46% ABV15 PPM$40-55

Bourbon casks, oloroso sherry casks, and American virgin oak casks

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Light gold with a slight haze; non-chill filtered, natural colour

Smell

Dry and fragrant with woodsmoke, dried lemon peel and a little vanilla. Orchard fruit and heather honey with a touch of liquorice

Sip

Lightly smoky with sweet malt, honey and orchard fruit. The peat is gentle and aromatic — a wisp of smoke rather than a wall. Vanilla and gentle oak spice

Savor

Medium finish with smoke and sweetness intertwined. Heather honey and dried fruit linger with gentle peat warmth

View flavor map

Smoke House: Peat (light, aromatic woodsmoke); Sweet Shop: honey, vanilla; Greengrocer: Orchard (apple), Citrus (lemon peel); Pub/Bar: Liquorice; Garden Path: Floral (heather)

Tomatin 10 Year OldCore

10 Years40% ABV2025$45-55

Bourbon casks

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Light gold; clean and bright from bourbon-only maturation

Smell

Lemon sherbet sweets and green apples on the nose, followed by buttery croissants, white chocolate and macadamia nuts

Sip

Notes of lemon meringue pie, honey and a touch of toffee on the palate, complemented by apricot and peach. Sweet, fruity and buttery profile

Savor

Clean and fresh finish. The fruit and butter notes fade smoothly without lingering bitterness

View flavor map

Sweet Shop: honey, toffee, white chocolate; Greengrocer: Citrus (lemon), Orchard (apricot, peach, apple); Bakery: Sweet (croissant, meringue); Natural Foods: Nuts (macadamia)

Tomatin 12 Year OldCore

12 Years43% ABV$30-45

Bourbon barrels and sherry casks

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Warm amber gold; medium legs from combined bourbon and sherry maturation

Smell

Fresh aromas of green apple balanced by richer spicier notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and Parma violets. Touch of milk chocolate, pine, light malt, sweet butterscotch, pear and mango

Sip

Cut grass, lemon and orange peel on the palate, followed by richer notes of woody spice. Buttery and creamy feel with light vanilla, hay, smooth oak, toasted almond and bright fruit

Savor

Long and buttery finish highlighting oak and toasted almond. Fades with gentle warmth and lingering fruit-spice balance

View flavor map

Sweet Shop: vanilla, butterscotch, chocolate; Greengrocer: Orchard (apple, pear), Citrus (lemon, orange peel), Tropical (mango); Bakery: Biscuit (almond); Natural Foods: Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg); Garden Path: Floral (Parma violets)

Tomatin 12 Year Old Sherry CaskCore

12 Years40% ABV2024$55-70

Oloroso sherry casks (full maturation)

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Deep amber with reddish hues; rich colour from full sherry cask maturation

Smell

Sweet aromas of caramelised apple and sweet pears, complemented by citrus zest from sultana, orange peel and apricot with subtle undertones of aged leather

Sip

Indulgent notes of velvety chocolate fudge, golden manuka honey and the crunch of dried fruit and nuts. Nutty sherried notes with toasted almonds, orange peel, baked apples, nutmeg, cinnamon, baked flan and brioche

Savor

Lingering warm finish with a hint of sweet cinnamon spice. Soft and silky with excellent length

View flavor map

Sweet Shop: chocolate fudge, honey; Greengrocer: Orchard (apple, pear), Citrus (orange peel), Dried (sultana, apricot); Pub/Bar: Wine (sherry); Bakery: Sweet (brioche, flan); Natural Foods: Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg); Furniture Maker: Leather

Tomatin 14 Year Old Port Wood FinishCore

14 Years46% ABV$60-75

Bourbon barrels finished in tawny port casks

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Deep copper with ruby tints; port cask influence adds rich colour

Smell

Powerful nose with big bunches of red berries and grapes, vanilla, oak and hints of white pepper. Mixed berry muffin, vanilla frosting, honey, malt, wax, baking spice with touches of nuts and cocoa

Sip

Good mouthfeel with both sweetness and tannins. Blackberries, red currants, peaches and apples for intense fruitiness, merged with heavy spicing — pepper, cinnamon, hint of cumin. Cloves, plums and bittersweet notes

Savor

Medium finish with fruity, malty, pastry dessert sweetness. Long spiciness with nutmeg and bittersweet oak. Fades a bit nutty

View flavor map

Greengrocer: Orchard (apple, peach), Berry (blackberry, red currant, red berries), Dried (grapes); Pub/Bar: Wine (port); Sweet Shop: vanilla, honey; Bakery: Sweet (muffin, pastry); Natural Foods: Spices (pepper, cinnamon, cumin, cloves, nutmeg); Natural Foods: Nuts (walnuts)

Tomatin 18 Year Old Oloroso SherryCore

18 Years46% ABV$90-130

Bourbon hogsheads finished in first-fill oloroso sherry butts

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Rich amber with deep copper tones; full colour from oloroso sherry finishing

Smell

Chewy grape and sultana with winter spice — cloves and cinnamon. Vanilla fudge, supple smoke weaving through cut grasses and apple peels. Dried apricot, nougat and distinctive nutty character

Sip

Quite sweet and full with barley sugar and honeycomb. Chocolate orange and cocoa dusted liberally on toasty oak. Tropical fruit with mellow undertones. Rich and full-bodied

Savor

Long and powerful finish. Dry, chewy oak with a touch of pepper. Lingering tones of oak spice, dried fruit and velvety chocolate

View flavor map

Sweet Shop: fudge, honeycomb, nougat, chocolate; Greengrocer: Dried (sultana, apricot, grape), Orchard (apple); Pub/Bar: Wine (sherry); Natural Foods: Spices (cloves, cinnamon, pepper); Furniture Maker: Oak; Bakery: Sweet

Tomatin Cask StrengthCore

NAS57.5% ABV$55-65

Bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry casks

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Rich gold with amber highlights; full colour and heavy legs from cask strength presentation

Smell

Home-made ice cream drizzled with caramel and crushed walnuts. Seville orange, red berries and black pepper. Crystallised ginger, green apple and a touch of salty sea air. Malty with honey and toffee

Sip

Sweet chocolate and cooking spices growing intense on the mid-palate. Vanilla pod and crumbly fudge. Mixed fruit basket of green apples, peaches and tropical bananas. Concentrated and powerful

Savor

Long and warming finish. Spice and malt linger with chocolate and vanilla undertones. The cask strength amplifies all flavours with a peppery warmth

View flavor map

Sweet Shop: caramel, toffee, chocolate, fudge, vanilla; Greengrocer: Citrus (Seville orange), Orchard (apple, peach), Tropical (banana), Berry (red berries); Natural Foods: Spices (black pepper, ginger); Natural Foods: Nuts (walnuts); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea salt

Tomatin Double CaskCore

NAS40% ABV2025$40-50

Ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso sherry casks

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Warm gold; medium depth from combined bourbon and sherry cask maturation

Smell

Aromas of vanilla-sweetened baked apples and pears. Gentle and inviting with malty sweetness

Sip

Dark fruit flavours gently balanced with ginger and cinnamon. Accessible fruity and malty character with soft sweetness

Savor

Sweet and spicy finish. Clean and approachable with lingering warmth

View flavor map

Sweet Shop: vanilla; Greengrocer: Orchard (apple, pear), Dried (dark fruits); Natural Foods: Spices (ginger, cinnamon); Bakery: Sweet

Tomatin LegacyCore

NAS43% ABV$25-43

Bourbon barrels and virgin oak casks

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Pale gold; light and bright with thin legs indicating lower body

Smell

Enticing aromas of vanilla bean, white chocolate and cinnamon. Lemon zest, pine forest, slightly green with delicate malt sweetness

Sip

Gentle waves of fresh fruit — pineapple, green apple — intermingled with hints of ginger. Cracked pepper and sweet barley with warming oak beneath. Light and approachable body

Savor

Light and refreshing finish. Sweet and buttery with apple pie, gingerbread, dairy notes, lemon, salted nuts, pepper and cinnamon fading gently

View flavor map

Sweet Shop: vanilla, white chocolate, toffee; Greengrocer: Citrus (lemon), Orchard (apple), Tropical (pineapple); Bakery: Sweet (gingerbread, apple pie); Natural Foods: Spices (cinnamon, ginger, pepper)

Limited / Special Releases9

Cu Bocan 12 Year Old Rum Cask

12 Years46% ABV202415 PPM$70-85

Caribbean rum casks (Guyana and Barbados)

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Warm gold; natural colour from rum cask maturation, non-chill filtered

Smell

Tropical sweetness meets gentle smoke. Grilled pineapple, sea salt, ginger and white chocolate

Sip

Grilled pineapple and tropical fruit sweetness balanced with the signature wisp of peat smoke. Sea salt and ginger add complexity. White chocolate richness

Savor

Medium finish with tropical fruit and smoke intertwined. Sea salt lingers alongside gentle spice and sweetness

View flavor map

Smoke House: Peat (light, aromatic); Greengrocer: Tropical (pineapple); Sweet Shop: white chocolate; Walk to Lighthouse: Sea salt; Natural Foods: Spices (ginger); Pub/Bar: Rum

Cu Bocan 15 Year Old

15 Years50% ABV202215 PPM$100-130

Oloroso sherry casks (full maturation)

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Deep amber with reddish copper tones; rich colour from full oloroso sherry maturation

Smell

Beeswax polish, Seville marmalade peel, extra-dark chocolate and Jamaican ginger cake. Rich and complex with smoky undertones

Sip

Intense dark chocolate and marmalade sweetness. Beeswax richness and ginger cake spice. The peat provides structure and depth beneath the sherry influence. Full-bodied at 50% ABV

Savor

Long and warming finish. Dark chocolate and marmalade linger with gentle peat smoke. Spice and oak tannins provide a satisfying close

View flavor map

Smoke House: Peat (supporting, under sherry); Sweet Shop: dark chocolate, marmalade; Pub/Bar: Wine (sherry); Bakery: Sweet (ginger cake); Natural Foods: Spices (ginger); Furniture Maker: Beeswax, oak; Greengrocer: Citrus (Seville orange)

Cu Bocan Creation #1

NAS46% ABV201915 PPM$50-65

Moscatel de Setubal wine cask (72% 9yo) and Imperial Stout barrels (28% 12yo)

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Warm amber gold; wine and stout cask influence adds depth

Smell

Sweet Muscat wine character with dark stout malt notes. Smoky undertones with dried fruit and dark chocolate

Sip

Complex marriage of sweet wine, roasted malt and gentle peat smoke. Dried fruit, chocolate and subtle sweetness from the Moscatel influence

Savor

Medium-long finish with smoky-sweet interplay. Wine and malt character persists

View flavor map

Smoke House: Peat (light); Pub/Bar: Wine (Moscatel), Beer/Stout; Sweet Shop: dark chocolate; Greengrocer: Dried (dried fruit)

Cu Bocan Creation #3

NAS46% ABV202015 PPM$50-65

Moroccan Cabernet Sauvignon and North American rye casks

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Warm copper with ruby highlights; Cabernet Sauvignon influence adds wine colour

Smell

Aromas of Moroccan souks market — exotic spices, light smoke with strawberries in balsamic vinegar. Citrus and tropical fruits

Sip

Exotic spice blend with strawberry and balsamic notes. Rye cask adds spicy backbone. Tropical fruit sweetness balanced with light peat smoke. Complex and unusual

Savor

Medium finish with lingering exotic spice and fruit. Smoky sweetness fades with warm spice

View flavor map

Smoke House: Peat (light); Pub/Bar: Wine (Cabernet Sauvignon); Greengrocer: Berry (strawberry), Citrus, Tropical; Natural Foods: Spices (exotic, balsamic)

Cu Bocan Creation #4

NAS46% ABV202115 PPM$50-65

Tawny port and Cognac casks

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Deep copper with port-wine ruby tones; dual wine cask maturation provides rich colour

Smell

Plum jam, grilled peach and stewed forest fruit. Sweet campfire smoke with cinnamon warmth

Sip

Rich plum jam and grilled peach. Stewed forest fruit with cinnamon sweetness. Cognac influence adds vinous depth. Sweet campfire smoke weaves throughout

Savor

Long finish with plum and forest fruit sweetness. Campfire smoke lingers with warming cinnamon and port wine richness

View flavor map

Smoke House: Peat (sweet campfire smoke); Greengrocer: Orchard (peach, plum), Berry (forest fruit); Pub/Bar: Wine (port, Cognac); Natural Foods: Spices (cinnamon); Sweet Shop: jam

Cu Bocan Creation #7

NAS46% ABV202515 PPM$55-70

Pineau des Charentes Rouge and American virgin oak casks

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Warm amber copper; Pineau des Charentes wine cask adds depth and colour

Smell

Rhubarb crumble with custard, ginger and cinnamon. Almond croissants with apple and toffee

Sip

Wisp of smoke followed by toasted brioche, butter shortbread, strawberry and raspberry. Heather smoke and sweet oak spice. Rhubarb and custard sweetness

Savor

Medium-long finish with sweet oak spice and gentle heather smoke. Rhubarb custard lingers alongside warming cinnamon

View flavor map

Smoke House: Peat (heather smoke, gentle); Bakery: Sweet (croissant, brioche, shortbread, crumble); Sweet Shop: custard, toffee; Greengrocer: Berry (strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb), Orchard (apple); Natural Foods: Spices (ginger, cinnamon); Natural Foods: Nuts (almond); Pub/Bar: Wine (Pineau des Charentes)

Tomatin Italian Collection Amarone Edition

12 Years46% ABV2023$70-95

Bourbon casks finished in Amarone wine casks

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Rich copper with ruby highlights; Amarone wine cask influence adds red-wine tints

Smell

Aromas of poached pears and traditional rhubarb and custard sweets. Inviting fruitiness with gentle sweetness

Sip

Strawberry jam, Turkish delight and light butter pastry. Rich and indulgent with fruit-forward character. Wine-influenced sweetness

Savor

Luxuriously rich finish that boasts cinnamon-spiced red apples. Lingering warmth and fruit

View flavor map

Greengrocer: Orchard (pear, apple), Berry (strawberry, rhubarb); Sweet Shop: custard, Turkish delight; Bakery: Sweet (pastry); Pub/Bar: Wine (Amarone); Natural Foods: Spices (cinnamon)

Tomatin Italian Collection Barolo Edition

12 Years46% ABV2023$70-95

Bourbon casks finished in Barolo wine casks

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Deep copper with dark ruby tints; Barolo wine cask imparts the deepest colour of the Italian trio

Smell

Aromas of mulled wine and dark chocolate. Red fruits, charred oak, tobacco and leather with herbal and spicy notes. Opens with caramel and dark chocolate on aeration

Sip

Spiced mead mingling with cranberry. Fresh citrus reminiscent of grapefruit adds vibrancy. White pepper and ginger. Tannic structure from Barolo influence

Savor

Light tannins and delicate sugared almonds. Medium-long finish with grapefruit, apple and brown sugar

View flavor map

Pub/Bar: Wine (Barolo, mulled wine); Sweet Shop: dark chocolate, brown sugar; Greengrocer: Citrus (grapefruit), Berry (cranberry), Orchard (apple); Tobacco Shop: tobacco; Furniture Maker: Leather, charred oak; Natural Foods: Spices (pepper, ginger); Natural Foods: Nuts (almonds)

Tomatin Italian Collection Marsala Edition

12 Years46% ABV2023$70-95

Bourbon casks finished in Marsala wine casks

4/4 Tasting

View tasting notes

Sight

Warm gold with honeyed tones; Marsala wine cask adds subtle depth

Smell

Enticing aromas of panettone and candied lime. Sweet and inviting with Italian pastry character

Sip

White chocolate, lemon truffles and hazelnuts. Citrus sweetness balanced with nutty richness. Delicate and refined

Savor

Sweet citrus melody finish accompanied by notes of toasted oak. Clean and elegant

View flavor map

Sweet Shop: white chocolate; Greengrocer: Citrus (lime, lemon); Bakery: Sweet (panettone); Natural Foods: Nuts (hazelnuts); Pub/Bar: Wine (Marsala); Furniture Maker: Oak