Tormore 14 Years Old 2009 Cask #700421 (The Caskhound)

This Tormore was from the independent bottler The Caskhound, aged 14 year old from 2009, drawn from cask 700421 and bottled at 55.9%. 223 bottles in all. Tormore, built in 1958 by Long John Distillers a mile south of the River Spey, is one of Scotland's most striking distilleries. 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. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. Past a decade the nut deepens into almond, honey and a riper orchard fruit. Sherry wood suits the light make, lending dried fruit and a nutty depth. 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. Elixir Distillers bought Tormore in 2022 and are reviving it as a single malt brand.

Bottled at a cask strength 55.9%, it is rich. The Pedro Ximenez lends raisin, date and treacle, and a gentle vanilla from the wood, with almond, apple and a clean citrus. A green apple and a citrus note lift it. Green apple and almond draw out the close. This is a Speysider from the white cathedral of the Spey.