Simon Wittenberg takes a look at The 1977, one of Tomatin’s most exclusive releases, and the newest addition to the award-winning Highland distillery’s coveted Warehouse 6 collection.
Tomatin has unveiled the newest expression in its renowned Warehouse 6 collection that already counts The 1971, The 1972 and The 1975.
Named The 1977, this is the first luxury whisky in the distillery’s history to be matured in a French Sauternes wine cask, resulting in an exceptional delivery of tropical flavours; it is finally available to customers across the globe after being in the making for 42 years and completing a journey of over 1,100 miles. In fact, only 390 bottles are available, priced at £3,000 each.
Tomatin’s whisky is renowned for its complex and deep fruity flavours. Its flavour is borne from a combination of mango, ginger and coconut, which is a trademark flavour from the Sauternes region of southwestern France.
Graham Eunson, Distillery Operations Director at Tomatin, said, “Of the thousands of casks held at Tomatin, we’ve only ever acquired a handful of Sauternes wine casks.
“Using any one of them, even for one of our oldest and most valuable whiskies, wasn’t a decision we made lightly; we knew from the start that it could be difficult to impart the flavours of the wine cask to the whisky without overwhelming it.
“Despite the immense challenge, I’m pleased to say that our team has produced a truly exceptional whisky that includes notes of apricot, peach, sweet honeysuckle and spice, all enticed from the Sauternes cask’s influence.”
The 1977 expression has spent its life maturing in Warehouse 6, the traditional dunnage-style warehouse where Tomatin’s most treasured casks are laid low above a cool earthen floor.
Cared for by several generations of the distillery’s workforce, their dedication is perfectly matched by the complex meteorological conditions that surround the towns of Sauternes and Barsac to produce extraordinarily sweet wine.
These fruity notes have influenced the whisky over time, resulting in a luxurious expression that dances across the palate for a gloriously long finish.
Each of the Warehouse 6 expressions is a tribute to the craftspeople at Tomatim who’ve been custodians of great Scotch for multiple generations.
The 1977 is no different, and just like the other luxury expressions in the series (i.e. The 1971, 1972 and 1975), it has been presented in an exquisite hand-blown.
The beautiful bottle comes with two Glencairn Crystal glasses, a numbered certificate showing the remarkable journey undertaken by the whisky and a solid copped stopper.
Tomatin Warehouse 6 collection – Where and How?
Bottled at natural cask strength (49% ABV), The 1977 expression is available from specialist retailers throughout the UK and the world. For more information about Tomatin and The 1977, visit www.tomatin.com.