Tormore 10 Years Old 2014 (SMWS 105.51)

From Scotch Malt Whisky Society comes this Tormore, a 10 year old from 2014, drawn from cask 105.51 and bottled at 62%. A release of 289 bottles. Founded in 1958 near Grantown-on-Spey in Speyside, Tormore is a grand Speyside distillery. Purifiers on the spirit stills keep the spirit light and clean.

It was worked through swan neck stills with purifiers, for the light, clean, nutty make Tormore is known for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the fruit. At this age the spirit is fresh and nutty, the apple and citrus bright. Soft water off the granite hills gives a clean, ester driven make. A workers' village was built nearby in the same striking style. Heat recovery condensers and sub coolers run alongside the purifier stills. The soft water runs through heather and peat and granite before reaching the distillery. The distillery doubled from four stills to eight in 1972, then settled back to four pairs.

Bottled at a cask strength 62%, it is rich. A nutty, orchard fruit sweetness sit alongside a quiet vanilla from the refill oak. It is fine and nutty, the fruit and oak well matched. The finish is dry, nutty and structured. This is the architectural jewel of Speyside in a glass.