Our story so far
Since its earliest days, Tormore was more than just a place to make whisky. It was envisioned as a beautiful vibrant village where a community could grow and thrive, and designed to create an elegant, fruity profile of whisky that could be enjoyed in blends or stand alone as a single malt.
American businessman Lewis Rosenthiel of Schenley Industries seeks to expand production of whisky with a new site in Scotland
The new distillery is needed to provide liquid for Long John, a blended whisky growing quickly in popularity across the United States.
He recruits politician and publisher Brendan Bracken, Architect and President of the Royal Academy Sir Albert Richardson, and famed Scottish poet and novelist Neil M. Gunn to aid him in selecting a suitable distillery site. The three are rumoured to have travelled through Speyside in a Rolls Royce, reviewing at least 20 sites in the surrounding areas before selecting the location for Tormore for its reliable supply of pure spring water and convenient location on the main road to establish a distillery community.
Architect Sir Albert Richardson, working with local architects and materials, had a particular vision for a distillery that would enhance the scenery rather than detract from its beauty.
"we don't want a factory or a powerhouse. I like to think of this new distillery and village as a painter would think of it, and not as a town planner."
Sir Albert Richardson, quoted in The Scotsman, Tuesday, 5 November 1957
Tormore becomes the first newly built Speyside distillery in the 20th century
"Production began yesterday at the new Tormore whisky distillery at Advie on Speyside… the new Speyside plant has its own village, specifically built."
The Scotsman, Saturday, 17 October 1959
From the very start, Tormore was designed to create an elegant whisky that could sit at the heart of blended whiskies for export as well as stand on its own as single malt releases. Renowned whisky writer Neil Gunn described tasting a first sample.
“In a light and distinctive character. But I am not thinking of your mere blends at the moment: I am thinking of what a delectable dram this will be, as a single whisky in eight or ten years’ time out of, say, a second-fill sherry cask!”
Neil M. Gunn, Selected Letter, Friday 8 April 1960
Community has always been at the heart of Tormore. In keeping with the vision of Albert Richardson the distillery was built as a village where people would be proud to live, work and celebrate together. Unique features included a village hall where community events were held, landscaped gardens, a musical clock tower, and even a curling rink.
"The rink is built right in front of the entrance to the distillery as part of the company’s facilities for its employees, along with a new covered recreational hall."
The Inverness Courier, Tuesday, 12 February 1963
For years much of Tormore’s lovely fruity and bright whisky was hidden away in blends, with a smaller quantity released as single malts. The distillery kept operating through the decades but over time has drifted from its original vision, instead operating as an important producer of whisky for blends under subsequent owners. When you taste whiskies through the years the signature Tormore character shines through – that’s what we have been working to revive.
Tormore is welcomed into the Elixir Distillers family and begins the next chapter in its story
“Tormore is one of the most visually stunning distilleries in Speyside. It produces a beautiful spirit that was always intended to be a fruit-forward and elegant whisky. We are humbled to be the new custodians of Tormore and to re-energise this whisky and the community that makes it.”
Sukhinder Singh, renowned whisky collector, Co-Founder of Elixir Distillers
Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh
Co-Founders of Elixir Distillers
Since acquiring Tormore, we have been getting to know the distillery and reviving the community and the vision of Tormore. We have been patiently checking and assessing the significant stocks of aged whisky we inherited with the distillery, and introducing a carefully considered re-racking program to nurture the flavours further. Using specifically chosen high quality casks, predominantly American oak bourbon, Oloroso, and Sherry casks, we are gently bringing forward the bright, fruity notes and nutty richness so prized in the original vision for Tormore. A new range of elegant and fruity single malt whiskies is ready to share.
"over the last three and a half years, we've been working with the casks that we inherited when we acquired the distillery, and they are maturing beautifully. We've really discovered that Tormore sings a beautiful, harmonious song when it's an American oak, and we've spent time and care doing that to set our intention for the future and create our new core range."
Polly Logan, Tormore Distillery Manager
