Tormore 12 Years Old (43%)

A distillery bottling of Tormore matured to 12 year old and bottled at 43%. Tormore was built in the late 1950s a mile south of the River Spey; it is one of the most striking distilleries in Scotland. Purifiers on the spirit stills keep the spirit light and clean.

It was drawn off the distillery's swan neck stills with their purifiers, for a delicate, ester rich spirit. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending honey and vanilla. Younger here, it keeps a clean, nutty freshness over orchard fruit. Clean, citrussy spirit and a long maturation make for a structured malt. Elixir Distillers bought Tormore in 2022 and are reviving it as a single malt brand. 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. Tormore is cleaner than the waxy Clynelish, with more weight than the lightest Speysiders.

At an approachable 43% it is light and balanced. A gentle vanilla from the wood, with almond, apple and a clean citrus. The mouthfeel is light, the fruit carried on a nutty body. Almond and a dry oak see out the finish. This is a Speysider from the white cathedral of the Spey.