Tormore 9 Years Old 2013 (Hart Brothers)

This is a Tormore single malt, chosen and bottled by Hart Brothers, a 9 year old from 2013 and bottled at 46%. Tormore was completed in 1960 a mile south of the River Spey, and its single malt is being revived under new ownership. Elixir Distillers bought it in 2022 and are reviving it as a single malt brand.

It was drawn off the distillery's swan neck stills with their purifiers, for a delicate, ester rich spirit. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the fruit. At a youthful age the fruit is lively and the almond clear. Sherry wood suits the light make, lending dried fruit and a nutty depth. Tormore is cleaner than the waxy Clynelish, with more weight than the lightest Speysiders. The new owners released a Blueprint Series of 10 year olds in 2025 ahead of a full range. Its rise in 1958 broke a long pause in distillery building that had lasted decades. The architect Sir Albert Richardson gave it a grand, ornamental design unlike any other distillery.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. A gentle vanilla from the wood runs under a clean, nutty character. A dried fruit and a dry oak spice give it depth. A long, nutty finish carries a citrus lift. This is a structured, nutty Speysider.