After selling The Whisky Exchange in 2021 to global drinks conglomerate Pernod Ricard, Elixir Distillers are taking a page from the Billy Walker playbook and lifting an unloved member of the Chivas portfolio out of obscurity and into the spotlight. While Billy Walker reaps the financial benefits of aggressively finishing old Glenallachie stock in hyperactive sherry casks, it remains to be seen what tinkering (if any) Elixir Distillers will do with the Tormore stock they have acquired.
One of the younger distilleries on Speyside, Tormore became operational in 1960 and has never really been a household name: there have only been a handful of official releases over the years, most of which have been overshadowed by their more illustrious stablemates of Glenlivet and Aberlour. Indeed, Tormore has been even further down the pecking order than the likes of Strathisla, Longmorn and Scapa.
A small number of highly sought after independent bottlings however have secured Tormore a place in the heart of some whisky aficionados, who will undoubtably be excited by the prospect of greater availability to come.
The deal also moves up the timeline for Elixir Distillers to make good on the 'Distillers' part of their name, which had previously been expected to coincide with the completion of their brand new Portintruan distillery on Islay. Having ticked off 'fruity Speyside' and 'smoky Islay', are the Singh brothers now on the lookout for a third classic regional flavour profile?
