Tomatin Distillery, Inverness (must see)

Nestled in the Highland region, just 25 minutes south of Inverness, the Tomatin Distillery stands as a hallmark of single-malt Scotch whisky production. Although the site has ties to whisky-making dating back to the 16th century when cattle drivers would purchase from a local still, the official establishment of the distillery came in 1897 under the name Tomatin Spey Distillery Company Ltd. Despite its promising start, the company faced financial difficulties, going bankrupt in 1906. It reopened in 1909 and has undergone multiple transformations, including its acquisition by Japanese conglomerate Takara Shuzo in 1986, becoming the Tomatin Distillery Company Ltd.

Initially modest in scale, operating with just two stills, the distillery began expanding production in 1958. By the 1970s, it reached an impressive annual capacity of 12.5 million liters, earning recognition in 1987 as the largest malt distillery in Scotland. However, subsequent changes in demand led to the dismantling of stills, reducing its capacity to just over 5 million liters, with actual production of around 2.5 million liters as of 2007.

Tomatin's output primarily contributes to blended whiskies, including its proprietary brands Antiquary and Talisman. However, the distillery has shifted focus in recent years to solidify its reputation as a producer of high-quality single malts. This effort includes expanding its core range, such as replacing its 10-year-old malt with a 12-year-old in 2003 and offering exclusive limited releases like 32-year, 40-year, and single-cask expressions. Additionally, the distillery has embraced innovation with Cu Bocan, a lightly peated single malt produced for one week each year.

A visit to Tomatin offers a glimpse into the heritage and evolution of Scotch whisky, blending centuries of tradition with modern refinement.