57°23′51.0″N 3°24′31.8″W / 57.397500°N 3.408833°W / 57.397500; -3.408833

Tormore distillery
Region: Speyside
OwnerElixir Distillers
Founded1958
StatusActive
Water sourceAllt an Torra Mhoir Burn
No. of stills4 wash stills
4 spirit stills
Capacity3,700,000 litres

Tormore distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery located approximately 1 km south of the River Spey. Its water source is the Allt an Torra Mhoir Burn.

It is currently not open to the public

History

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The Tormore distillery construction began in 1958 and was completed in 1960.[1]

Designed by Alexander Cullen with input from Sir Albert Richardson[2] for Long John International, it is a listed building,[1] and one of the most architecturally striking distilleries.[3] The building is made of granite, has copper rotors and a clock which plays four different Scottish songs each quarter of an hour.[4] A village of workers houses were built in the same style, which was up for sale in its entirety in 2004, for offers over £550,000.[1] The topiary hedges in the garden are also clipped to the shape of a bell or still.[1]

In 1972, the distillery was expanded from four to eight stills. These were converted to be heated by wood chips in 1984, a by-product of area's forestry.[5] Long John was absorbed by Whitbread & Co in 1975, and the distillery was acquired by Allied Distillers Ltd the same year. The Tormore distillery has been controlled by Pernod-Ricard since they purchased Allied Domecq in 2005[1] and until it was sold to Elixir Distillers in 2022.[6]

A time capsule in the shape of a pot-still is buried in the forecourt, which is intended to be opened in 2060. It contains glasses and a tregnum of Long John, the original owners’ own blended whisky.[4]

Bottlings

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Tormore's malt whisky is currently sold in 14 and 16 year aged versions. There are also independent bottlings from Signatory Vintage, Cadenhead's, Blackadder, That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Douglas Laing's Xtra Old Particular and Provenance.[4] The whisky is described as "A smooth, nutty whisky which sometimes has a pear-like or melony character" by Royal Mile Whiskies.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Tormore". Scotland:Whisky and Distilleries.
  2. ^ "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report (July 6, 2019, 4:34 am)". www.scottisharchitects.org.uk.
  3. ^ "Tormore Scotch Whisky Distillery". scotchwhisky.net.
  4. ^ a b c "Tormore Scotch Whisky". whiskymerchants.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
  5. ^ a b "Tormore". Royal Mile Whiskies.
  6. ^ "Pernod Ricard to sell Tormore Scotch Whisky brand and distillery to Elixir Distillers".
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