Tormore 16 Years Old 1966 (R. W. Duthie & Co.)

From R. W. Duthie & Co comes this Tormore, a 16 year old release from 1966 and bottled at 57%. Set in Speyside, near the Cairngorms, Tormore has distilled since 1960. The distillery is sometimes called the white cathedral of Speyside for its grand design.

Distilled on soft Speyside water through purifier stills, building the firm, clean Tormore style. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness to the clean make. Mid age brings a deeper honey and a riper, nuttier fruit. The unpeated spirit lets the wood and the fruit speak without smoke. Most of the spirit matures off site, much of it in refill ex-Bourbon wood. The distillery sits near Grantown-on-Spey, in sight of the Cromdale Hills. Tormore is cleaner than the waxy Clynelish, with more weight than the lightest Speysiders. The new owners released a Blueprint Series of 10 year olds in 2025 ahead of a full range.

Bottled at a cask strength 57%, it is rich. The Oloroso gives dried fruit and a toasted nuttiness, and a nutty, orchard fruit sweetness sit alongside honeyed oak sweetness underneath. A green apple and a citrus note lift it. The close is clean, nut over orchard fruit. This is the architectural jewel of Speyside in a glass.