Tormore 14 Years Old 2004 Cask #903 (G&M)

Single malt Tormore, an independent Gordon & MacPhail bottling, aged 14 year old from 2004, drawn from cask 903 and bottled at 58.8%. Built in the late 1950s in the Spey valley near Grantown, Tormore is a grand Speyside distillery. It was granted listed building status in 1986, rare for a distillery so young.

The spirit was made in copper stills whose purifiers keep the spirit light, for a light, nutty make of real clarity. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending honey and vanilla. Around the mid teens the malt gains a fuller nutty depth over the citrus. Clean, citrussy spirit and a long maturation make for a structured malt. Its rise in 1958 broke a long pause in distillery building that had lasted decades. The architect Sir Albert Richardson gave it a grand, ornamental design unlike any other distillery. Its granite buildings, copper roofs and musical clock earned it listed status in 1986.

At cask strength 58.8% it is muscular yet clean. Vanilla and a light cream from the barrel runs under green apple, nut and a soft spice. It is fine and nutty, the fruit and oak well matched. The finish runs light, citrussy and fresh. This is a light, almond edged Speyside single malt.