Highland distillery Tomatin has relaunched its historic blended Scotch brand, The Antiquary, introducing three new whiskies. Originally established in 1888 by John and William Hardie, The Antiquary draws its name from a Sir Walter Scott gothic novel. Tomatin acquired the brand in 1996.
The revived range includes The Antiquary 15 Year Old, 21 Year Old, and 30 Year Old. Each whisky is crafted using a blend of Highland and Speyside malts with Lowland grains.
The Antiquary 15 Year Old, finished in Bordeaux red wine claret casks, offers notes of “mahogany, polished leather, and pipe tobacco” on the nose, with flavors of “rhubarb, tamarind, raspberry coulis, and vanilla” on the palate.
The Antiquary 21 Year Old is matured in tawny Port casks from Symington Family Estates in Portugal, delivering aromas of “hessian, cut hay, burning heather, and dark mocha,” and a palate of “spiced plum, wild strawberries, dark chocolate, and orange.”
The Antiquary 30 Year Old is aged for over three years in Sherry casks from Jerez, Spain. It features a nose of “tropical fruits with hints of smoked bacon and aged timber” and a finish of “beeswax and heather honey.”
All three whiskies are bottled at 40% ABV.
“Although Tomatin is a modest producer in today’s terms, it was once the biggest distillery in the world, and we are very fortunate to have a vast collection of incredibly high-quality whiskies from around Scotland,” said Scott Adamson, blender and global brand ambassador for Tomatin. “This provided us with a fantastic arsenal to work with when it came to the creation of these three new releases for this important milestone in The Antiquary’s history.”
The new packaging blends classic and contemporary design elements, echoing Victorian and Edwardian antiques while maintaining a modern edge. The range is available on the distillery’s website, Amazon, and specialist retailers. The 15-year-old retails for £45 ($56), the 21-year-old for £100 ($126), and the 30-year-old for £275 ($348).
Derek Scott, Tomatin distillery marketing director, added: “Following in the footsteps of J&W Hardie’s legacy, we continue its passion for curiosity and invention. We know how much the whisky landscape is changing and, with the steady revival of blends, it feels like the ideal time to give The Antiquary brand a new lease of life. This launch is a call to those who enjoy nostalgia and exploring their own style, which we hope inspires them to enjoy The Antiquary.”
In addition to The Antiquary relaunch, Tomatin recently added a limited edition single malt to its Cù Bòcan Scotch whisky range.
