CATEGORY: Single Malt Whisky.
COMPANY: Tobermory Distillery Ltd.
DISTILLERY: Tobermory, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland.
ABV: 46.3% (92.6 proof).
AGE: 12 years.
MASHBILL: Malted barley.
COLOR: Natural (no added coloring), bright gold.
Read in the magazine (rotate your device for a better reading experience):
Aged for twelve years in second-fill American oak casks –predominantly ex-bourbon and ex-sherry– this whisky is non-chill-filtered and carries a slight peatiness derived from the water source rather than malt drying.
The name Tobermory comes from Gaelic, meaning “Mary’s Well.” Founded in 1798 as Ledaig, the distillery underwent multiple name changes, closures, and reopenings before resuming uninterrupted production in 1993.
The distillery houses two wash stills and two spirit stills. Two are dedicated to Tobermory’s production, while the others distill the peated Ledaig malt.
Tobermory’s original warehouse was sold and converted into apartments; its casks are now stored at Deanston. Ironically, though located on an island, Deanston is colloquially referred to as “the mainland.”
NOSE: Green apple and melon notes, with subtle salinity and spices like cinnamon and cardamom.
PALATE: Sweet orange, caramel, and vanilla, with lingering cinnamon, hints of clove, and a touch of citrus.
FINISH: Long and complex, with sustained salinity and a sweet counterpoint for a striking contrast.
COMMENTS: Tobermory is the only distillery on the Isle of Mull. Its whiskies –peated or unpeated– share a delicate salinity from their water source: a lake on the property.
The driving force behind Tobermory’s current character is Julieann Fernandez, its Master Blender. She’s among the women rising to prominence in an industry long dominated by men.
Photography: Gilsane García Morais.
Special Thanks: Private Collection of Dr. Gilton Da Silva Morais.
