Tormore 11 Years Old 2010 Cask #C22070 (Claxton’s)

This Tormore was from the independent bottler Claxton's, aged 11 year old from 2010, drawn from cask C22070 and bottled at 62.4%. A release of 66 bottles. Founded in 1958 a mile south of the River Spey, Tormore is a grand Speyside distillery. Elixir Distillers bought it in 2022 and are reviving it as a single malt brand.

It was drawn off the distillery's swan neck stills with their purifiers, for a delicate, ester rich spirit. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. At a youthful age the fruit is lively and the almond clear. Years in oak round the spirit, the nut and orchard fruit deepening with age. 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 cask strength 62.4% it is muscular yet clean. Raisin and a nutty sherry depth build, and a gentle vanilla from the wood, with almond, apple and a clean citrus. The mouthfeel is light, the fruit carried on a nutty body. The finish runs light, citrussy and fresh. This is a Speysider from the white cathedral of the Spey.