Tobermory – 12 Year Old (70cl, 46.3%)

Tobermory – 12 Year Old is a whisky from Tobermory (Islands). Aged 12 years, bottled at 46.3% ABV, 70cl. The Tobermory Distillery, on the island of Mull, sits on the waterfront in the picturesque, and colourful, town of the same name (although those of you with young children may know it better as “Balamory”). Like so many others, the distillery, since its founding in 1798, has gone through several periods of closure, with this down-time accounting for nearly as much of its life as its periods of production have. In 1993, the distillery was purchased by Burn Stewart Distillers, who also own Bunnahabhain and Deanston. Under their guiding hand, the distillery is undergoing somewhat of a renaissance, eschewing chill filtration and caramel colouring, along with introducing a higher standard strength of 46.3% ABV. This, in conjunction with some intriguing wine cask finishes, and the success of their peated Ledaig range (pronounced led-chig), has allowed the company to reinvest in the distillery, in order to increase output. Good news for everyone.