Tormore 12 Years Old 2011 Cask #800103 (The Old Friends)

Bottled by The Old Friends, this Tormore, a 12 year old from 2011, drawn from cask 800103 and bottled at 51.7%. A release of 287 bottles. First built between 1958 and 1960 on the A95 in the heart of Speyside, Tormore is a grand Speyside distillery. The distillery is sometimes called the white cathedral of Speyside for its grand design.

Distilled in swan neck stills fitted with purifiers, on soft Achvochkie Burn water, giving the structured, nutty Speyside spirit. A wine cask held it, layering fruit over the nutty malt. Younger here, it keeps a clean, nutty freshness over orchard fruit. A slightly oily texture carries the cask flavour over the clean spirit. 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.

Undiluted at 51.7%, it is layered. The Port cask adds plum and red berry, and the refill oak lending honey and vanilla, with pear, almond and a citrus lift. It is clean and structured, the nutty spirit shining through. A nutty, gently spiced finish lingers. This is the malt of Speyside's white cathedral.