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Tomatin, Inverness-shire, IV13 7YT Scotland
Tel: +44 (0) 1463 248148 / Visitor Centre: +44 (0) 1463
248144
Viewer's Comments about Tomatin
 Illicit stills are part of the history of whisky distilling in Scotland. If you probe into the history of the area around Tomatin, you will find that whisky has almost certainly been distilled there for centuries. As a distilling site, illicit or otherwise,
Tomatin goes back to the 15th Century when drovers –
men who drove their cattle - would stop to fill their ram’s
horns at the still alongside the old laird’s house.
This house was part of the Tomatin Estate and was located
where the modern day distillery stands.
A formal licensed distillery for the making of fine Scotch
malt whisky was first built on the current day site in 1897
by the Tomatin Spey District Distillery Co Ltd, and revived
in 1909 by the new Tomatin Distillers Co Ltd.
A 20-year expansion program started in the 1950s saw production
rise to some 12 million litres of alcohol a year by 1974,
making Tomatin the largest capacity Scotch whisky distillery
in the world at the time. During this period there were
23 pot stills in operation, this has since been reduced
to 12 to enable a more efficient operation and a production
capacity of 120,250 litres of alcohol per week, 42 weeks
a year, therefore today’s distillery has a production
capacity of 5,050500 litres of alcohol per year.
The distillery was acquired by Japanese shareholders in
1986, who established the current Tomatin Distillery Company
Limited, and launched the modern era of whisky distilling
in the Monadhliath Mountains.
In 1995, we saw the acquisition of J & W Hardie Ltd
and the Antiquary brand from United Distillers. Today J
& W Hardie acts as the brand export company for Tomatin,
dealing with the production, logistics, sales and marketing
of the branded bottled goods.
J & W Hardie is also the owner of the Talisman Finest
Blended Scotch Whisky brand.
The distillery has always been an integral part of the local
community and the village now known as Tomatin was built
around the distillery and did not exist prior to its establishment
in 1897. The settlement of Tomatin, which in the Gaelic
language means ‘hill of the juniper’, was formed
as a result of the wealth that the distillery created in
the surrounding area.
Historically Tomatin has been used as a filling malt by
the major blending companies in Scotland, although the company
is now focused on building a strong core range of single
malts. The range consists of a 12 year old, 18 year old,
25 year old and a number of vintages. This range will be
extended over the coming year with a 30 and 40 year old
and a number of specially selected single cask bottlings.
 Tomatin
is one of the very few distilleries in Scotland to retain
its own cooperage, where our highly skilled cooper maintains
the casks in perfect condition. We feel this situation gives
us an advantage over our competitors as we are able to use
casks that are consistent in quality thus giving us a whisky
that maintains the same characteristics every time. We feel
so strongly about maintaining this tradition that we have
employed an apprentice cooper whom we hope will continue
the long tradition of coopering in Tomatin for many years
to come.
Tomatin Single Highland Malt has a gentle hint of nuttiness
and a lightly peated flavour.
Courtesy of Tomatin Distillery
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TOMATIN 12 YEAR SINGLE
HIGHLAND SCOTCH Elegant and airy, with
a big smooth texture, the 12 year old Tomatin is
classic single Highland malt.
A true delight for discerning whisky drinkers, Tomatin
is carefully matured in traditional oak barrels
to produce the lightly peated, delicate flavour
which charms connoisseurs.
Nose: The complex
bouquet contains rich malt and fruity aromas with
just a hint of peatiness.
Taste: The palate is rewarded with a unique combination
of attractive flavours – a balance of apples,
pears and malt, with a gentle hint of nuttiness
enhanced by the subtle use of sherry wood. The result
is a wonderfully rich and elegant taste producing
a long and satisfying finish.
San Francisco World Spirits Competition
2004 – Silver Medal
International Wine & Spirits Competition 2006
– Silver Medal
International Wine & Spirits Comp 2007 –
Silver Medal
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Visitor Centre & Gift Shop
We’d love to see you at Tomatin’s Visitor Centre,
to share our passion for and secrets of whisky distilling
here in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. This four star
visitor attraction takes you to the very heart of whisky
making.
Our friendly guides will welcome you and talk you through
the whole distilling process. You’ll meet Albert the
Excise Man and hear about whisky-loving angels. Best of
all, you’ll be given a free taste of Tomatin 12 year
old single Highland malt and have the opportunity for some
retail therapy afterwards.
Opening Times
Currently open Monday to Friday 9.00 till 5.00. Tours, costing
£2.00 per person, are offered daily at 11.00am &
2.30pm. Booking is always advisable.
Our Visitor Centre is open at weekends from
Easter to the end of October, although we regret that distillery
tours are not available.
The distillery is open for tours all year around, except
for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and
2 January.
Tour Frequency
Saturday 9.00am to 5.00 pm
Sunday 12.00pm to 4.30pm
Large Parties
Advance booking is essential for large parties.
Call the Visitor Centre at +44 (0)1808 51144 or send an
email to Marie.
Parking
There is plenty of parking, clearly signed, to the rear
of the Visitor Centre, with disabled parking just outside
the building, and wheelchair access to all parts of the
whisky tour.
Handicapped Access
The tour offers wheelchair access to all areas and includes
handicapped restroom facilities in the Visitor Centre. Handicapped
parking is also available.
Available throughout the day, everyday, are
samples of the Tomatin 12 year old Single Highland Malt
whisky and of the award-winning Culloden Cream Liqueur.
In our Visitor Centre you may relax and watch our DVD presentation
which gives an insight into how our whisky is made.
The Tomatin Whisky Presentation and Tasting Tour
An in-depth and comprehensive tour of the Distillery including
nosing and tasting Tomatin's aged Malts in our private Stillhouse
Suite. £30 per person.
- Welcoming dram of the Tomatin 12 year old Single Highland
Malt
- Viewing of our D.V.D. in the Stillhouse Suite - showing
our methods and some History of Tomatin Distillery
- In-depth guided Tour by one of our Managers, including
visit to Tomatin's own Cooperage
- Nosing and Tasting Tomatin's award-winning Whiskies
- Finally, a visit inside one of our Bonded Warehouses
Tomatin Distillery Production Facts
- Malt used in production – Optic
- Production capacity – 5 Million litres of Alcohol
( 2 million produced in 2006/2007)
- 12 pot Stills in operation – 12 wash backs
- Water source – Alt-na- frith ( 'free burn' is
the English translation)
- One single mash at Tomatin uses 7.92 tons of malt which
produces around 40,000 litres of wort for fermentation.
The wort in turn produces approximately 3250 litres of
alcohol.
- Oil fired bolier produces steam which heats the pot
stills
- This first distillation takes approximately 6 hours
and second 8 hours
Location
We’re one of the easiest distilleries in Scotland
to visit. Look at any map and you’ll see us on the main
A9 trunk route, just 16 miles south of the city of Inverness,
capital of the Highlands, and 16 miles north of Aviemore and
the spectacular Cairngorm National Park. If you're taking
the train, you can take it to either Inverness or Aviemore,
and then take a bus to Tomatin.
Just a few miles to the west lies the world famous Loch Ness,
with its secret depths and myths and monsters. We’re
also one of the highest, sitting at 1028 feet above sea level
deep in the Monadhliath Mountains; so easily accessible and
yet with a sense of isolation which adds to the character
of Tomatin.
So whether you’re looking for walking, climbing, skiing,
shooting, extreme sports, shopping, conference facilities,
or just a relaxing break; whether you’re looking for
a hotel, bed and breakfast, guest house, hostel or camp site,
you’re looking at an ideal part of the Highlands.
Contact Us
Tomatin Distillery
Tomatin, Inverness-shire
IV13 7YT Scotland
Tel: +44 (0) 1463 248148
Visitor Centre: +44 (0) 1463 248144
E-mail: The
Tomatin Distillery
Courtesy of Tomatin Distillery
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