Tormore 28 Years Old 1983 (SMWS 105.17)

This is a Tormore single malt, chosen and bottled by Scotch Malt Whisky Society, a 28 year old Speyside malt from 1983, drawn from cask 105.17 and bottled at 55.3%. Just 310 bottles were filled. Tormore was built in the late 1950s a mile south of the River Spey; it is one of the most striking distilleries in Scotland. It was designed by Sir Albert Richardson, a President of the Royal Academy, in a grand ornamental style.

It was drawn off the distillery's swan neck stills with their purifiers, for a delicate, ester rich spirit. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness to the clean make. Past twenty years the spirit turns honeyed and nutty while keeping its clarity. Long, gentle ageing turns the green spirit towards honey and nut. 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.

At a full 55.3% it is intense yet nutty. The Oloroso gives dried fruit and a toasted nuttiness, and a gentle vanilla from the wood runs under a clean, nutty character. Soft orchard fruit and nut sit behind the sweetness. The close is clean, nut over orchard fruit. This is a structured, nutty Speysider.