Meet Martin
Tomatin distillery
Tomatin is more than just another whisky distillery. Since 1897 their people have worked hard to build the Tomatin community that exists today and lies at the heart of everything they do. Tomatin Distillery produces quality single malt (Tomatin & Cù Bòcan) and blended Scotch whisky (The Antiquary) in an area of stunning natural beauty which has rich whisky making traditions dating back to the 1500s.
The Tomatin Visitor Centre offers all our single malt and blend whiskies and gifts and is open daily. One of the highlights of visiting Tomatin Distillery is the tours which is available seven days a week. Tour bookings must be made in advance by calling all 01463 248144 or email visitors@tomatin.com
Tomatin Distillery’s Visitor Centre Manager is Martin Hall and we caught up with him recently to find out about his passion for whisky and what to expect from a tour at the award-winning Tomatin Distillery.
What makes a visit to Tomatin Distillery so memorable?
At Tomatin Distillery we love to give a warm Highland welcome to all our guests. I very much believe in a personal experience, so we now only have smaller groups, enabling the tour guides to offer a personal and intimate experience using their own voice – we never script any part of the tours be it our 3-hour Single Cask Experience or the 1-hour Legacy Tour.
Tours offer an introduction to all the different brands (Tomatin, Cù Bòcan, The Antiquary) as well as the chance to see inside of an old mash tun and visit the beautifully traditional dunnage warehouse (Warehouse 6) which is home to our exclusive Tomatin Warehouse 6 Collection.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I am thrilled to see so many visitors from all over the world coming through our doors again. None of us were sure what might happen at the start of the year but so far it has exceeded our expectations.
I am also looking forward to taking part in many fantastic events around the Highlands such as Moy Game Fair and Belladrum music festival. I can’t wait to spread the word of how fantastic the distillery and our whiskies are at these events.
Do you have a favourite from the Tomatin family of malts? And what is the best way to enjoy it?
One of the best discoveries I have made since starting at the Visitor Centre in January was trying our Pedro Ximenez which is part of our Visitor Centre exclusive range. For those that don’t know, this is a whisky that has matured in a very sweet sherry butt. It is unlike any whisky I have ever tried, and I have since enjoyed watching our guests as they try this expression for the first time and watching their faces light up! When it comes to how we advise people to drink their whisky then there is only one answer “anyway they like it”!