Tormore 9 Years Old 2011 Cask #800039 (A.D. Rattray)

From A.D. Rattray comes this Tormore matured to 9 year old from 2011, drawn from cask 800039 and bottled at 65.2%. A release of 229 bottles. Tormore was founded in 1958 in Speyside, near the Cairngorms; it is a listed building, the white cathedral of Speyside. The granite buildings carry copper roofs and a musical clock that plays four Scottish songs each quarter hour.

Distilled on soft Speyside water through purifier stills, building the firm, clean Tormore style. A refill American oak cask held it, keeping the clean character to the fore. Younger here, it keeps a clean, nutty freshness over orchard fruit. Most Tormore matures off site, much of it in refill ex-Bourbon. The soft water runs through heather and peat and granite before reaching the distillery. 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.

Bottled at a cask strength 65.2%, it is rich. A nutty, orchard fruit sweetness sit alongside honeyed oak sweetness underneath. A green apple and a citrus note lift it. Green apple and almond draw out the close. This is the architectural jewel of Speyside in a glass.