Category: Tormore

Style: Sherry and Grassy

Nose:

Cranberry-infused malt syrup singing in the embrace of a fresh, grassy landscape. Light herbal touch, rose water, vanilla sponge cake… Assorted red fruits, cherry and treacle dipping lower while an energetic grassy tone surges up at the end.

Palate:

Toffee apples, strawberries and blackcurrants dressed prettily around honeycomb. Fresh grass rolling in, a perky herbal touch, followed by dried mangoes, stewed red fruits and chocolate éclair. Cinnamon dusting on blood orange malt cake with a reminiscence of peach skin. Ginger spice gathering momentum to finish high.

Finish:

Vanilla biscuits gently dabbed into cranberry sauce, goji berries, a light serve of egg pudding and some red fruits to give a nice sherried finish.

Thoughts:

A straight arrow Tormore shooting with plenty of sherry, very Speyside, very modern. Another expression from this distillery which is running at a relatively high pace, which creates a sense of brightness and vibrancy, it does not feel like a 26-year-old at all. Maybe still lacking a bit of substance on the palate, but sometimes I wonder if this young distillery is on the road to create something big. Quite nice.

☆ [Recommended]

[56.0% | Independent Bottling | 1983 Distilled | 2010 Bottled | 318 Bottles | 1st Fill ex-Sherry Hogshead | Cask Strength | Non Coloured | Non Chill Filtered | *-]

-Esmond

[50.4%・28 Years Old・Distilled in 1988・Bottled in 2016・Joint Bottling of Jens Drewitz, Max Right (Whisky Antique) and Diego Sandrin (Lion’s Whisky)・Single Cask Release of 254 Bottles]

Nose:

The nose is pungent for its age, still containing those spirit-y characters from a young Speysider.  In time, it opens up a bit with notes of passion fruits, coconut oil and a wee soapiness but still feels quite tight.  There is also some firewood smoke in the background as well.

Palate & Finish:

Soft fruits as per an old school Speysider but this one comes packed with quite a dose of spices.  It grows sweeter as the jammy note unfolds, succulent with a crisp lager note on the back end.

Hint of burnt toast in the finish with the soft fruits carrying on.

Thoughts:

Technically this has probably the weakest nose of the series.  However, the delivery is otherwise rather solid, and befitting as a homage to good old days.

✓ [Recommended if you like the style/ distillery]

-Nicholas

Style: Sweet and Complex

Nose: 

Bright citrus lemon sponge cake joined by refreshing mango tartness on the first whiff. Beneath sits dense caramel sauce. Smooth and creamy texture. Vanilla milk steaming and the fragrance of butter toast slowly follows through.

Palate:

Coconut cream glides in beautifully with peppery spice. A energetic burst of bright tropical fruits sweetness on the palate. Fizzing lemonade, flavours of banana split coming to mind as milk chocolate notes come knocking. More oak presence towards the back and it sets a more delicate tone. Ripe fruits and white pepper buzzing lightly to finish.

Finish:

Hazelnut and more butter toast with dim overripe tropical fruits whispers. Nice and gentle.

Thoughts:

Complex Speyside firing with electrifying pace. Multi-dimensional flavours binding nicely, brilliant phase transitions, fruity and deliciously sweet. I haven’t tried a lot of Tormore(s) so far but this is an eye-opener for me. One of my Speyside highlights this year.

☆☆ [Highly Recommended]

[57.4%・2016 Bottled・1996 Distilled・Aged 20 Years・Independent Bottling・Single Cask・Non Coloured・Non Chill Filtered・Cask Number: 5655・Refill Bourbon Barrel]

-Esmond