Tormore Distillery, located on the A96 overlooking the River Spey, is a striking and prominent example of mid-20th-century whisky architecture. With its grand, palatial building and two crescents of whitewashed houses that once housed the distillery workforce, Tormore stands out as a statement distillery. Often described as resembling a Baltic hydropathic hotel or a power station, its design marks a significant moment in the whisky industry’s growth.
Opened in 1961 and designed by Sir Albert Richardson, Tormore was built to capitalize on the whisky boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Initially, it had four stills, but this number has since doubled to eight. The distillery employs purifiers on its stills, which helps to lighten the spirit, creating a notably firm edge when the whisky matures.
Although Tormore was bottled as a single malt shortly after being acquired by Chivas Brothers, it has never been heavily marketed, though recent releases, including two specifically for the French market in 2014, hint at a potential change in its profile. Tormore’s whisky was originally used in Long John Distillers’ blends, particularly popular in North America. After Allied Distillers acquired Long John in 1989, Tormore became an integral part of Ballantine’s blends. Today, it remains a component of Ballantine’s and is part of Chivas Brothers, which is owned by Pernod Ricard.
