Tormore 28 Years Old 1988 Spirits Shop’ Selection (Sansibar)

Bottled by Sansibar, this Tormore, a 28 year old Speyside malt from 1988 and bottled at 51.6%. 228 bottles in all. Tormore, completed in 1960 on the A95 in the heart of Speyside, is one of Scotland's most striking distilleries. The granite buildings carry copper roofs and a musical clock that plays four Scottish songs each quarter hour.

Distilled in swan neck stills fitted with purifiers, on soft Achvochkie Burn water, giving the structured, nutty Speyside spirit. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending honey and vanilla. Long ageing brings a deeper nutty, dried fruit character and a mellow oak. A patient maturation suits the light, nutty Tormore character. 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. For most of its life its spirit vanished quietly into blends rather than into bottles of its own.

At its natural 51.6% it is concentrated. The refill oak lending honey and vanilla, with pear, almond and a citrus lift. The texture is light and slightly oily, the nut threaded through. The finish is dry, nutty and structured. This is the malt of Speyside's white cathedral.