It is hard to think of another bottler that matches the Thompson Brothers consistency in releasing affordable quality malts.  Sure some of the big names do put out affordable malts under various labels, but many of them also run with luxury consumers who think little of dropping big money, or big money to me, on a bottle of whisky. The Thompson Brothers have always felt more modest and more directly connected to the whisky enthusiast crowd— those who find whisky is more community or hobby than simply a consumable good.

---

Whisky: Tormore 28 Year (1992), Thompson Brothers

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 47.3%

Cask: Refill Hogshead

Age: 28 Years (Distilled 1992)

Notes: Fresh apples and pears in pie crust with a buttery streusel topping— pear tarts and frangipane kept this firmly in the neighborhood of orchard fruits and malty pastries. White chocolate and macadamia nut oatmeal cookies continued with butter, brown sugar, and more subtle vegetal notions of green squash and cucumber. Medium-bodied on the palate, those subtle vegetal qualities were more apparent with a dusting of salt and citrus. Pasties and orchard fruits followed with some additional creamy marshmallow sweetness. Plenty of old wooden benches and peppery minerality gestured toward the age of the malt as apple sauce continued all the way through. The finish was long with gentle orchard fruits, some spirited pepper, and oak.

---

Score: 7 (83)

Mental Image: Pie Merchants in the Morning Market

Conclusion: Orchard fruits galore!  This was a tasty and mild affair, a quintessential well-aged malt with all the rough edges sanded off so you can relax without fear of splinters.  It was, however, rather “anonymous Speyside” and less tropical than some of my favorite Tormore which put something of a ceiling on the score. The flavors were clear and well-structured, with the aroma having some interesting diversions, but it was not a terribly complex or deep whisky.  Overall, something for quiet evenings— a soft pillow and warm blanket of a malt; comforting.