Tormore

Tormore was one of the first new single malt whisky distilleries to be built in Scotland during the 20th century. This followed tough times in the first half of the century that included two World Wars and the American period of Prohibition. It is one of the most architecturally striking distilleries in the Scotch industry and a listed building of historical importance.  The name translates as 'big hill' from the local Gaelic 'torra mhoir'. The whisky is mostly used within Pernod Ricard's best-selling Scotch whisky blends of Ballantine's and Chivas Regal.

Tormore is known for a light and fruity style. This has green fruit prominent with expressive notes of apple, pear and melon. It matures particularly well in bourbon whiskey casks and the fruitiness makes it popular with blenders.

There are just two core products - a 14 y.o. and a 16 y.o. Two further limited bottlings at the age of 12 and 20 years old form part of the Distillery Reserve Collection. Both are released at cask strength and non chill-filtered. They are only available at Chivas Brothers' visitor centres.

Tormore is popular amongst independent bottlers and remains the easiest way to taste whisky from the Speyside distillery. Good stocks can be found through That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Cadenhead's, Douglas Laing and Signatory Vintage especially.

Tormore is equipped with a large stainless steel mash tun. This feeds 11 stainless steel washbacks that operate a fermentation time of 52 hours. Eight copper pot stills work in four pairs to produce 4.8 million litres of spirit per year. The combination of clear wort from the mash tun and slow distillation through the stills enhance the fruity characteristics. There is extensive warehousing on site. The distillery water source is the Achvockhie Burn - a tributary of the River Spey, which is just one mile away.

Tormore was founded in 1958 by Schenley International and production began in 1960. The whisky was intended for their Long John blended Scotch brand. It was built alongside the A96 road, deep in the Speyside region and roughly halfway between Grantown-on-Spey and Aberlour.

The distillery was designed by Sir Albert Richardson in collaboration with renowned Scottish architect Alexander Cullen. It was built of granite with stone balconies, a striking copper roof and a distillery clock that plays four Scottish tunes, one on each quarter hour. Two rows of workers cottages were also constructed as part of the design. The buildings became heritage listed in 1986.

Schenley sold Tormore to Whitbread in 1975. Allied Lyons, who would become Allied Domecq, purchased the spirits section of Whitbread's business in 1989. They released Tormore single malt as part of The Caledonian Malts series - a direct response to the Classic Malts from United Distillers, who later evolved into Diageo. Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky division of Pernod Ricard, became owners in 2005 after they acquired Allied Domecq. The company remain in ownership today.