Tormore 40 Years Old 1980 Cask #4467 (Private Collection)

Gordon & MacPhail bottled this Tormore single malt, a 40 year old from 1980, drawn from cask 4467 and bottled at 58.2%. A release of 96 bottles. Tormore was built in 1958 by Long John Distillers beneath the Cromdale Hills in Speyside, and it was the first new malt distillery of the 20th century. It was the first new malt distillery built in Scotland in the 20th century, raised for the booming Long John blend.

The spirit was run through purifier stills for a light, clean spirit, to build a clean, citrussy, almond edged character. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending honey and vanilla. At thirty years and more it is rich and waxy, candied fruit, almond and old oak in a deep old malt. The light, ester rich make takes cask character well across maturation. The distillery doubled from four stills to eight in 1972, then settled back to four pairs. It has used wood chips from local forestry to fire its stills since 1984.

At cask strength 58.2% it is muscular yet clean. Melon, nut and a grassy note sit alongside soft vanilla and honey from the cask. It is clean and structured, the nutty spirit shining through. It closes clean, nutty and dry. This is Tormore's clean, nutty Speyside style.