
September 2, 2016

Little duets, today two middle-aged Tormore

We’ll always fondly remember the older official 10 years old white label from the 1970S, especially the ones for Dreher in Italy. These will be different beasts, I suppose…

Tormore 1997/2014 (46%, Gordon & MacPhail, Connoisseur’s Choice)

Colour: straw. Nose: maybe a little sour at first nosing, with quite some porridge and muesli, and then growingly grassy, without much fruitiness, quite unexpectedly. Like the whiffs of fresh almonds and baked apples that are staring to come through after one minute, though. Mouth: creamier and much fruitier this time, with some honey and some lemon marmalade, and a fresh side that works well. In the background, some cinnamon cake and a cup of tea, as well as more and more freshly malted barley. Cornflakes. Finish: medium, rather on sour apples and compote. Cinnamon again in the aftertaste, as well as a wee leathery side. Comments: good and well. SGP:451 - 80 points.

Tormore 20 yo 1995/2015 (53.1%, Single Cask Collection, bourbon hogshead, cask #20143, 220 bottles)

Colour: pale gold. Nose: more oak/vanilla impact in this one, which brought more roundness and an easier side. Perhaps a little ‘good’ rubber (bicycle inner tube) and once again these almonds. With water: a lovely mentholated maltiness arising. Vanilla-flavoured yoghurt. Mouth (neat): similar arrival after the G&M, only with more oomph. Lemon marmalade again, these faint rubbery touches again, and the cinnamon cake again, this time coated with vanilla and icing sugar. Rather brighter this time. With water: rather bitter oranges this time, as well as a little lemongrass, lemon cake, lemon curd, custard… And green pepper. Finish: medium, rather fresh, citrusy, slightly candied, with a grassier aftertaste. Comments: another one that’s good and well. SGP:551 - 84 points.

Check the index of all Tormore I've tasted so far