Tormore 30 Years Old 1991 Cask #15386 (Connoisseurs Choice)

Gordon & MacPhail selected this Tormore, aged 30 year old from 1991, drawn from cask 15386 and bottled at 55.7%. A release of 488 bottles. Built in the late 1950s beneath the Cromdale Hills in Speyside, Tormore is a grand Speyside distillery. Long a filler for the Long John and Ballantine's blends, Tormore was rarely seen as a single malt.

The spirit was run through purifier stills for a light, clean spirit, to build a clean, citrussy, almond edged character. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness to the clean make. At thirty years and more it is rich and waxy, candied fruit, almond and old oak in a deep old malt. Soft water off the granite hills gives a clean, ester driven make. 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.

At its natural 55.7% it is concentrated. The Oloroso adds figgy fruit and a warm nuttiness, and a light, nutty fruitiness meet soft vanilla and honey from the cask. Beneath it run almond, apple and a soft spice. It finishes clean, fresh and nutty. This is a light, nutty Speyside single malt.