Whisky: Tormore 24 Year (1995), Le Gus’t

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 45.4%

Cask: Butt

Age: 24 years (Distilled 10 Aug. 1995, Bottled 16 Sept. 2019)

Nose: Honey, butter, bread, pears and pineapple, pistachio ice cream, pine, nettles, bergamot, birch oil.

Palate: Medium to light body, subtle fruit preserves, birch, nettles, strong tea, cigar box, slightly sour yeast, chocolate and dark bread at the end.

Finish: Medium-length with hints of melon, cinnamon, and strong tea.

Score: 5

Mental Image: Birch Bark Tea

Narrative & Notes: Heady notes of butter and malty pastries slathered in rich honey slowly faded as pears, pineapples, and pistachio ice cream appeared. As the dram rested, the aroma became more herbal with leather, pine, nettles, birch, and bergamot, which lent the impression of wandering a furniture store or enjoying a quick cup of tea on a hike. The mouthfeel was medium to light with a semi-sweet profile of subtle fruits and strong herbal notes. Developing on the back end were notes of vanilla, roasted malt, bran, and chocolate. The finish was medium to short, with hints of fruit, melon, or watermelon rind, and strong black tea— as if someone vastly over-steeped the tea.

Well, this Tormore was a tad disappointing, considering some of the glowing reviews online. The initial nose was wonderfully malty and sweet with lovely hints of fruit… then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked… I mean when an herbal aroma invaded. The herbal quality just took hold, and I could not shake it. The palate was very similar, with an intriguing tea-like quality that never quite settled. The initial aroma left me with high hopes, but I was wondering what had happened by the end. Not my favorite Tormore and one that felt a bit over-oaked.

Compared to other reviews online, I was surprised to find out I was very much on the lower end. I did not get nearly the same waxiness that some whiskybase users noted. I think if the body had felt more substantial, perhaps I would have rated it a bit higher. Besides that, my notes were not altogether that different from others, but I seem to have come to a very different conclusion.

Image Credit: Whiskybase