Tormore 15 Years Old 1997 (Connoisseurs Choice)

Gordon & MacPhail bottled this Tormore single malt, aged 15 year old from 1997 and bottled at 46%. Founded in 1958 near Grantown-on-Spey in Speyside, Tormore is a grand Speyside distillery. Elixir Distillers bought it in 2022 and are reviving it as a single malt brand.

It was worked through swan neck stills with purifiers, for the light, clean, nutty make Tormore is known for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the fruit. Mid age brings a deeper honey and a riper, nuttier fruit. The unpeated spirit lets the wood and the fruit speak without smoke. The new owners released a Blueprint Series of 10 year olds in 2025 ahead of a full range. Its rise in 1958 broke a long pause in distillery building that had lasted decades. The architect Sir Albert Richardson gave it a grand, ornamental design unlike any other distillery. Its granite buildings, copper roofs and musical clock earned it listed status in 1986.

At 46% it is clean and citrussy. Melon, nut and a grassy note sit alongside a quiet vanilla from the refill oak. It is clean and structured, the nutty spirit shining through. It finishes clean, fresh and nutty. This is Tormore's clean, nutty Speyside style.