Tobermory is the only distillery on the picturesque Hebridean Isle of Mull, lying off the west coast of Scotland, south of the remote Ardnamurchan and Morvern peninsulas. This vintage 2008 Highland single cask is a traveller through time with its bright, bold nose of parma violets and lavender with notes of fresh yoghurt and barnyard, which leads to a sour yeasty fruit-filled finish. Punchy on the palate with a subtle sweetness of apple, floral notes and honeydew with a hint of rosewater, Heliotrope Fancy delivers a medium to long finish with an impressive herbal and earthy finale.

Perhaps the distillery's most unusual feature is its five-tonne cast iron mash tun. This has a body built of red-painted ironwork, bolted together in a way that makes it look as if it is a left-over from the construction of the Forth Rail Bridge. The site produces low volumes which is equally split between their peated and unpeated variants.

Tobermory’s spirit style is influenced by slow distillation and by the equipment’s design, with stills boasting ‘boil bulbs’ and ‘S’-shaped lyne arms that increase reflux and ‘lighten’ the spirit character, while giving a slightly oily character with citrus notes.

Distillery: Tobermory

ABV: 70cl

Region: Highland

ABV: 46%

Bottles in cask: 377

Matured in: Hogshead

Vintage year: 2008 

A bright, bold nose of parma violets and lavender lead to a sour yeasty fruit-filled finish.

Nose: Fresh yoghurt, barnyard, subtle parma violet & lavender

Palate: Punchy with subtle sweetness, apple, floral notes, honeydew with a hint of rosewater

Finish: Medium to long with a herbal & earthy finale