Tormore 28 Years Old 1982 Cask #13316 (G&M)

This is a Tormore single malt, chosen and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, aged 28 year old from 1982, drawn from cask 13316 and bottled at 55.1%. Founded in 1958 a mile south of the River Spey, Tormore is a grand Speyside distillery. It was designed by Sir Albert Richardson, a President of the Royal Academy, in a grand ornamental style.

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. At this age it is rounded and nutty, the fruit folded into a honeyed, waxy body. A slightly oily texture carries the cask flavour over the clean spirit. 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. Most of the spirit matures off site, much of it in refill ex-Bourbon wood.

At a full 55.1% it is intense yet nutty. Raisin and a nutty sherry depth build, and a gentle vanilla from the wood runs under a clean, nutty character. A dried fruit and a dry oak spice give it depth. The finish runs light, citrussy and fresh. This is a structured, nutty Speysider.