Tormore

Introduction:

Tormore Distillery produces fruity, light, and smooth Single Malt Whiskies. The whiskies showcase sweet aromas of melons, pears, and malt, with the majority being matured in ex-Bourbon barrels that add vanilla and spice notes. While Tormore Single Malt Whisky is primarily used for blends like Long John and Chivas, there have been limited releases of Tormore expressions, including a 12 – year – old, 14 – year – old, and 16 – year – old.

The 14 – year – old Tormore is a fruity and light whisky with creamy toffee, vanilla, and spicy notes, offering a complex profile. The 16-year-old Tormore is selected from the finest casks and released in small batches, characterized by sweet and fruity flavors of ripe melons and pears, resulting in a smooth and rich whisky. Independent bottlers such as Cadenhead’s, Douglas Laing, Signatory, and Blackadder also release Tormore Single Malt Whiskies.

Production:

Tormore Distillery has increased its production capacity by 20% since the 2012 upgrade, currently producing approximately 4,400,000 liters annually. Owned by Chivas Brothers, a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard, Tormore primarily serves as a supplier for their blends. The distillery sources water from Achvochkie Burn, which passes through areas of heather, peat, and granite hills before reaching Tormore. Tormore focuses on energy efficiency, utilizing heat exchangers to pre-heat the wash.

The Mashing:

Tormore Distillery uses a full lauter mashtun made of stainless steel since 2012. The malt for mashing has always been brought to Tormore, as the distillery does not have its own malting floors.

The Fermentation:

Tormore employs stainless steel washbacks (11 in total) for fermentation, which are easier to clean than traditional wooden ones. The use of stainless steel does not significantly influence the fermentation process.

The Pot Stills:

Tormore’s still house houses four pairs of pot stills, with the expansion from two to four pairs occurring in 1972. Despite the relatively low height of the swan’s necks and short lyne arms, Tormore’s new spirit is fruity and light. This is achieved through the use of purifiers attached to each still, containing copper plates to enhance copper contact. The wash stills have a capacity of 18,500 liters, while the spirit stills can hold 13,900 liters.

Warehouses:

Tormore primarily matures its whisky in ex-Bourbon casks, with only a few casks stored on-site in steel rack and palletized warehouses. The majority of casks are stored in other warehouses owned by Pernod Ricard, as Tormore no longer has a filling station in use. The whisky leaves the distillery in large tank trucks.

History:

Tormore Distillery was built in 1958 by Long John Distillers to meet the demand for Malt Whisky in their blend, Long John. The distillery’s unique and visually appealing design was created by renowned architect Sir Albert Richardson. The granite buildings, stone balconies, and copper roofs give Tormore a distinctive and picturesque appearance. In 1986, it was granted listed building status. Tormore was owned by various companies, including Whitebread & Co. and Allied Domecq, before being acquired by Pernod Ricard in 2005. In 2022, Elixir Distillers purchased the distillery from Pernod Ricard.

Visitor Center:

Tormore Distillery is not open to the public, and no tours or visits are available.

Visitor information:

Tormore Distillery
4 Richardson Road
Advie
Grantown-on-Spey
PH26 3LR