Tormore 20 Years Old 1995 Cask #3905 + 3906 (Signatory)

This is a Tormore single malt, chosen and bottled by Signatory Vintage, a 20 year old Speyside malt from 1995, drawn from cask 3905 + 3906 and bottled at 43%. Tormore, opened in 1960 in the Spey valley near Grantown, is one of Scotland's most striking distilleries. It was granted listed building status in 1986, rare for a distillery so young.

The spirit was made in copper stills whose purifiers keep the spirit light, for a light, nutty make of real clarity. 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. A slightly oily texture carries the cask flavour over the clean spirit. 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.

Bottled at 43%, it is rounded. Vanilla and a light cream from the barrel runs under a clean, nutty character. A dried fruit and a dry oak spice give it depth. The finish is dry, nutty and structured. This is a structured, nutty Speysider.