Tormore 5 Years Old 2015 Cask #9375 (Whiskymax)

This Tormore was from the independent bottler Whiskymax, a 5 year old release from 2015, drawn from cask 9375 and bottled at 46.5%. The outturn was 450 bottles. Founded in 1958 a mile south of the River Spey, Tormore is a grand Speyside distillery. 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. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding a light honeyed sweetness. Younger here, it keeps a clean, nutty freshness over orchard fruit. Clean, citrussy spirit and a long maturation make for a structured malt. 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.

At 46.5% it is smooth and nutty. A gentle vanilla from the wood, with almond, apple and a clean citrus. A green apple and a citrus note lift it. A nutty, gently spiced finish lingers. This is a Speysider from the white cathedral of the Spey.