Tormore 15 Years Old 2008 (The Whisky Cask)

Bottled by The Whisky Cask, this Tormore, a 15 year old from 2008 and bottled at 54.2%. Tormore, opened in 1960 in the Spey valley near Grantown, is one of Scotland's most striking distilleries. Long a filler for the Long John and Ballantine's blends, Tormore was rarely seen as a single malt.

The spirit was made in copper stills whose purifiers keep the spirit light, for a light, nutty make of real clarity. 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. Long, gentle ageing turns the green spirit towards honey and nut. 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.

At its natural 54.2% it is concentrated. Sherried dried fruit and a nutty edge come through, and vanilla and a light cream from the barrel, with pear, almond and a citrus lift. It is clean and structured, the nutty spirit shining through. Green apple and almond draw out the close. This is the malt of Speyside's white cathedral.