Tormore 13 Years Old 2010 (Old Particular)

Douglas Laing selected this Tormore, a 13 year old Speyside malt from 2010 and bottled at 48.4%. The outturn was 407 bottles. Tormore, opened in 1960 beneath the Cromdale Hills in Speyside, is one of Scotland's most striking distilleries. It was the first new malt distillery built in Scotland in the 20th century, raised for the booming Long John blend.

The spirit was run through purifier stills for a light, clean spirit, to build a clean, citrussy, almond edged character. A Port cask gave a plum and red berry depth. Around the mid teens the malt gains a fuller nutty depth over the citrus. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the nutty, citrussy core over time. 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 cask strength 48.4% it is muscular yet clean. The wine cask lends red berry and a dry spice, and a light, nutty fruitiness meet soft vanilla and honey from the cask. Beneath it run almond, apple and a soft spice. A nutty, gently spiced finish lingers. This is a light, nutty Speyside single malt.