Tormore 15 Years Old 2010 Cask #801034 (The Caskhound)

From The Caskhound comes this Tormore, a 15 year old Speyside malt from 2010, drawn from cask 801034 and bottled at 55.9%. Just 232 bottles were filled. Tormore was founded in 1958 in Speyside, near the Cairngorms; it is a listed building, the white cathedral of Speyside. Water comes from the Achvochkie Burn, flowing off the granite hills above.

Distilled on soft Speyside water through purifier stills, building the firm, clean Tormore style. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the fruit. By this age the light spirit rounds into nutty fruit and a soft honey. Refill oak lets the clean, nutty distillery character lead. 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 55.9%, undiluted, it is deep and nutty. A nutty, orchard fruit sweetness sit alongside honeyed oak sweetness underneath. It is fine and nutty, the fruit and oak well matched. A gently drying, nutty finish lingers. This is the architectural jewel of Speyside in a glass.