Tobermory
Distilling has taken place on the Hebridean island of Mull since 1798 – albeit with numerous interruptions and even two name changes: after a 42-year closure, the distillery reopened in 1972 as Ledaig, before reverting to its current name, Tobermory, in 1979. It remains the island's only distillery to this day.
One single distillery produces two entirely different malts: the unpeated Tobermory and the boldly smoky Ledaig. From the Tobermory 12 Year Old to the peaty Ledaig 10 Year Old, you will find the right bottle for every occasion in our selection.
Content: 0.7 Liter (€61.41 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€32.84 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.05 Liter (€159.80 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.15 Liter (€186.60 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€491.41 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€292.84 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Why did a distillery change its name twice?
John Sinclair founded the distillery in 1798 in the picturesque main town of the Isle of Mull – even in the 19th century, it was repeatedly closed for extended periods. From 1916 to 1930, it belonged to the Distillers Company Ltd, before being completely mothballed for 42 years from 1930. It was only in 1972 that it came back to life – initially under the old name Ledaig, though bankruptcy followed again as early as 1975. In 1978, Kirkleavington Property bought the site and renamed it Tobermory. After a further closure from 1981 to 1989 and limited production from 1990, Burn Stewart Distillers finally took over the distillery in 1993, and it has run continuously ever since.
How does one distillery produce two such different malts?
Ledaig is heavily peated, recalling its neighbours on the Isle of Islay. Tobermory, by contrast, is distilled from unpeated malt – though since the distillery's brewing water flows through peaty ground, even this malt carries a fine trace of peat alongside its floral, spicy notes.
Overview of the most popular bottlings
1. Tobermory 12 Year Old
The distillery's unpeated core.
Taste: Floral and spicy with a fine trace of peat in the background.
Serving suggestion: Neat, as a mild introduction to island whiskies.
2. Ledaig 10 Year Old
The boldly peated sister bottling.
Taste: Smoky and earthy, similar to malts from Islay.
Serving suggestion: For peat fans looking for an alternative to Islay.
Facts and figures
Address: Tobermory, Isle of Mull. Capacity: around 1 million litres a year, two wash stills (18,000 l) and two spirit stills (16,000 l). Water source: Mishnish Loch.