The origins of whiskey production in Tomatin are hard to be precise about the formal distillery which operates today was established in 1897 but there is reason to believe that whiskey production, albeit illegal, has been an important part of life in the area around Tomatin since the 1700s. The name itself gives an insight into this secret past: "Tomatin" translates to "Hill of the Juniper Bush". The chosen location may have been inspired by the history of illicit distillation on the site,