Interview: Tomatin’s Scott Adamson on craft, community and the Double Cask 13 Year Old

Introduction: Tomatin Distillery is ramping up its travel retail presence with a sharpened focus on authenticity, transparency and premiumisation – a strategy embodied by the launch of the travel retail-exclusive Double Cask 13 Year Old.

The 13 Year Old – matured in hand-selected bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry casks – replaces the 12 Year Old to offer greater distinction from domestic ranges, aligning with a growing consumer demand for exclusive, premium offerings in the channel.

As Tomatin Blender and Global Brand Ambassador Scott Adamson reveals, the new expression is just one part of a broader evolution designed to meet the changing tastes of today’s global traveller.

Speaking to The Moodie Davitt Report, Adamson shares how Tomatin is doubling down on what sets it apart: a special wood-sourcing process, an unwavering focus on cask quality, and a community-driven culture that celebrates the best of the Scottish Highlands.

Beyond the liquid, Tomatin is investing in revamped packaging, greater shelf visibility and enhanced storytelling to assert its modern Highland identity. For Adamson, Tomatin’s travel retail strategy is clear: offer whiskies of character and clarity, create experiences rooted in place and people, and innovate without losing sight of what truly matters​.

Tell us about the Double Cask 13 Year Old, which replaces the 12 Year Old in travel retail. Can you explain the decision to increase the age and why this specific age was selected?

When we first developed the global travel retail range, we aimed to create continuity between it and our domestic range. The Tomatin 12 Year Old, a key part of our core range since the 1990s, was also introduced to travel retail in a 1-litre format. It served as a strong entry point for many consumers.

As our presence in travel retail grew, there was increased demand for exclusive products that were clearly distinct from those available domestically. Simultaneously we were refreshing the packaging, making it an opportune time to review stock and consider what we could do differently from a liquid perspective.

We noticed that more of our stock was reaching into the teenage years, and that’s when the Tomatin flavour profile really comes alive – bringing out beautiful tropical fruit notes. We identified a high-quality parcel of bourbon and sherry casks at 13 Years Old that we could produce consistently in the volumes required. It allowed us to move on from the 12 Year Old and offer something with a touch more maturity, while staying true to the range.

Tomatin offers something for everyone – from accessible entry points to rare, high-end releases. The 13 Year Old serves as a bridge between the approachable 8 Year Old and more specialised expressions like the 16 Year Old – matured in Moscatel casks – and the 21 Year Old, which is fully bourbon matured.

This middle ground is ideal for consumers looking to explore more flavour while still enjoying an approachable profile.

How do you expect consumers to respond to this change?

We hope the response is positive. In situations like this, there are typically two options: remove the 12 Year Old and replace it with a non-age statement, or replace it with something that offers more. We chose the latter.

The 13 Year Old offers a slightly older whisky with a simplified recipe that brings clarity to the flavour profile. It still uses a mix of bourbon and sherry casks, maintaining the traditional Tomatin character – vanilla, coconut, dried fruit and spice – while giving consumers a new experience with added depth.

The roll-out of the 13 Year Old comes with updated packaging for travel retail. How does the design reflect the flavour profile? What inspired the colour palette?

At Tomatin, we place significant emphasis on our first-class wood policy. Every cask is matured on-site, and we have our own cooperage. The new packaging – with its gold foil detailing – symbolises our focus on cask quality and maturation. We’re introducing this visual element across other products as well. The on-pack messaging is designed to communicate the flavours consumers can expect inside the bottle.

Visual impact is vital in travel retail. The previous design was a subdued forest green that reflected Tomatin’s natural environment. With the 13 Year Old, we’ve taken a bolder approach. The vibrant purple pays homage to the blooming heather found in the hills surrounding the distillery during springtime. It’s a visual nod to our location and adds a strong shelf presence.

We’ve seen a broader trend of premiumisation in travel retail, with more age statements and exclusive collections. How does this release fit into Tomatin’s own premiumisation drive?

When we introduced our travel retail range in 2016-17, many brands were offering non-age-stated expressions, largely due to limited stock from earlier years. From the outset, we committed to full transparency, ensuring every product had an age statement – even the entry-level 8 Year Old.

That decision was about authenticity and clarity – ensuring consumers understood the value behind the price. With several non-age-stated whiskies on a shelf, it can be difficult to determine the differences. Including age statements gives the consumer more confidence and a clearer idea of what they’re purchasing.

As others in the market begin to reintroduce age-stated expressions, we’re pleased to offer products like the 13 Year Old that raise the bar and continue to differentiate us.

Tomatin is known for its wood policy and a distinctive maturation process. Can you tell us more about these processes and how they are applied to the 13 Year Old? 

Roughly 75% of the 13 Year Old is fully matured for 12 years in ex-bourbon barrels sourced from Kelvin Cooperage in Kentucky. We’re very specific about the American oak we use – it should have held bourbon, but not for too long. Unlike wine casks, where the previous contents are important, with bourbon barrels it’s the wood itself that imparts the key flavours. These barrels provide vanilla, coconut and creamy textures that complement Tomatin’s naturally fruity and malty spirit.

Sherry casks have been part of our story since our founding in 1897. We work directly with Juan Pino cooperage in Spain, where we specify the oak type, cask size, heat treatment and seasoning process. Once seasoned, the sherry is removed and the casks are sent directly to us. These contribute nutty, spicy, dried fruit flavours – raisins, sultanas, dark chocolate. Combined with the bourbon casks, they create a complex and balanced profile.

What sets Tomatin apart amid a highly competitive Scotch whisky category in travel retail?

Tomatin is geographically located at the very heart of the Scottish Highlands. If the Highlands were a dartboard, Tomatin would be the bullseye. This central location results in a whisky that draws characteristics from all Highland regions – elegance, fruitiness, bold spice.

Beyond geography, we’re unique in our culture. We’re the last distillery in Scotland to provide housing for our workforce. Around 30 cottages on-site house the people who make our whisky. It’s more than a workplace; it’s their home. Our head office is also at the distillery, so decision-making happens on-site, fostering a deep connection between product and place.

We also take pride in showcasing a modern view of the Highlands – one rooted not just in tradition, but also in contemporary culture, music, sport and community.

How are you sharing this story and USP in the channel?

The updated outer packaging plays a key role. Tomatin has traditionally been quite understated in a competitive space. With this bold new look, we’re securing visibility in major airports – Paris, Geneva, Amsterdam – helping us communicate our story more effectively at a global level.

We will be supporting the roll-out with high-profile promotions in travel retail. These activations will elevate the packaging and storytelling in high-traffic environments.

Whisky preferences and demographics are shifting with increased interest from regions such as India and more women entering the whisky world. How is Tomatin evolving to adapt to this changing landscape?

In the past, a core range would sit in travel retail with occasional activations. Now, we’re looking to bring more limited releases to the channel. It’s something we’ve seen work well in domestic markets, giving consumers a reason to re-engage and see what’s new.

We also have a private cask programme, partnering with specific airports to release exclusive single cask bottlings – products travellers won’t find anywhere else. Seeing a label that reads ‘Bottled exclusively for Amsterdam Airport Schiphol’, for example, creates a sense of rarity and excitement.

All of this contributes to keeping the Tomatin range fresh and relevant. From packaging to innovation, we believe the brand appeals to today’s modern whisky drinkers – people who value transparency, community and authenticity.

Rich flavour and standout design: Tomatin Double Cask 13 Year Old  The Tomatin Double Cask 13 Year Old is matured in a combination of bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry casks and is now available in selected travel retail locations globally. The result is a smooth single malt whisky that remains true to the distillery’s signature style. Bottled at 43% ABV and retailing at €64.90 for a 1-litre format, the new expression delivers a complex and inviting flavour profile. On the nose, it offers baked apples and pears complemented by tropical notes of coconut and guava. The palate reveals layers of chocolate granola, yoghurt-coated dried cranberries, sultanas and cinnamon. The Tomatin Double Cask 13 Year Old joins the brand’s established travel retail collection, which includes the Tomatin 8 Year Old (€47.50); the Tomatin 16 Year Old, aged in Portuguese Moscatel wine barriques (€89.90); the Tomatin 21 Year Old, matured exclusively in first-fill ex-bourbon casks (€224.90); and the ultra-premium Tomatin 45 Year Old, matured in Spanish oloroso sherry casks and limited to just 250 bottles (€5,500). The launch is supported by a refreshed outer packaging and label design, featuring a rich purple colourway intended to enhance shelf standout and vibrancy. Gold detailing, representing oak tree rings, underlines the distillery’s dedication to wood policy excellence and its meticulous tracking of cask provenance.