Near Advie in the Cromdale Hills stands a distillery that looks more like a town hall from another era than a place that makes spirit. Granite walls, a copper roof and a clock tower playing Scottish tunes. Behind the facade runs a light, fruity Speyside spirit that spent decades vanishing into blends. Here, for once, it stands alone in the glass.
Expert's Description
Tormore 1990 The Whisky.dk Series is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured for 17 years in a Bourbon hogshead and bottled at 46%.
Whisky.dk has put its name on the label, and the series is approved by us. The spirit was distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2007. It is neither chill-filtered nor coloured, and only 32 bottles exist, each one hand-numbered.
Tormore was built in 1958-60 for the Long John blended brand, designed by Sir Albert Richardson, then President of the Royal Academy. It was the first new distillery in Speyside in the 20th century. Most of the output has ended up in blends such as Ballantine's, and independent bottlings have always been relatively rare. Since 2022 the distillery has belonged to Elixir Distillers, who have given it its first permanent range.
A hogshead is a little bigger than the classic Bourbon barrel, so the wood works more slowly relative to the amount of whisky. That suits a light spirit like Tormore's. The cask brings vanilla, honey and pale, dry oak, while apple, pear and citrus still get room to speak. Seventeen years has been enough to round everything off without putting out the freshness, and 46% without chill filtration adds a little extra body.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Fresh and elegant. Vanilla, honey and ripe apples come first, and with a little time it opens up to pear, citrus peel, light florals and a dry thread of oak underneath.
Palate
Soft and rounded. Vanilla custard and malt meet honey and pale fruit, with the Bourbon cask adding sweetness and a touch of spice. Lemon and almond appear along the way while the oak stays calm in the background.
Finish
Medium to long and fairly dry. Vanilla and citrus fade slowly, and spiced oak is what remains at the very end.
Specifications
Name: Tormore 1990 The Whisky.dk Series Speyside Single Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Tormore
Bottler: The Whisky.dk Series
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 17 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1990
Bottled: 2007
Number of bottles: 32
Edition: The Whisky.dk Series
Flavour Profile
Fruity · Vanilla-sweet · Honeyed · Lightly floral · Dry oak
Did You Know?
Tormore's grounds include a curling pond, quite possibly the only one at a Scottish distillery. By all accounts it has never been used.
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