Tormore 12 Years Old

This official Tormore single malt, a 12 year old Speyside malt and bottled at 40%. Tormore, opened in 1960 beneath the Cromdale Hills in Speyside, is one of Scotland's most striking distilleries. It was granted listed building status in 1986, rare for a distillery so young.

The spirit was run through purifier stills for a light, clean spirit, to build a clean, citrussy, almond edged character. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding a light honeyed sweetness. 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. 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. 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.

Bottled at 40%, it is rounded. Apple, citrus and a soft almond meet soft vanilla and honey from the cask. Soft orchard fruit and nut sit behind the sweetness. A nutty, gently spiced finish lingers. This is a clean, citrussy Speyside single malt.