Tormore Distillery, often compared to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory for its whimsical art deco design, is entering a new chapter under the ownership of Elixir Distillers. The distillery, which opened in 1960 as one of the first new distilleries of the 20th century, was originally built by Schenley and earned the nickname 'pearl of Speyside'. Designed by Sir Albert Richardson, then president of the Royal Academy, the site features a cock tower that plays traditional Scottish tunes every 15 minutes, a copper roof, and an outdoor curling pond. It was granted listed building status in 1986.
A New Era for Tormore
After selling The Whisky Exchange to Pernod Ricard in 2021, brothers Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh acquired Tormore in 2022. Sukhinder Singh explains, 'We knew Speyside whisky would be a wonderful complement to our current offering. Tormore makes exceptional whisky, and it's the most beautiful distillery in Speyside, possibly Scotland.' The distillery's existing aged stock and fruity character were key attractions. Since the acquisition, Elixir has revamped the distillery, appointing Polly Logan as manager and Oliver Chilton as master blender.
The Blueprint Series and Full Relaunch
In 2025, Tormore launched its first releases under new ownership: the Blueprint Series, a trio of single malts including Bourbon Cask, Cream Sherry Cask, and American Oak Toasted Barrel. These limited editions pave the way for a full relaunch in June, alongside the opening of the distillery for tours. Sukhinder notes, 'From a distilling perspective, we're really happy with the setup at Tormore as it gives that great fruit-forward spirit. I honestly believe that a lot of single malts today have lost fruity character.'
Enhancing Fruit-Forward Notes
Polly Logan, distillery manager, reveals that the team has spent three years enhancing fruit-forward notes by experimenting with traditional Scottish barley varieties like Laurette and Sassy. They add a proportion of ale yeast alongside older distillers yeast to achieve 'beautiful fruity character but good body and weight.' Production has been slowed down, with fermentations elongated by a few hours to 'care for and gently produce our spirit.' In contrast, Portintruan on Islay, another Elixir project, focuses on flexibility and flavour creation from a clean slate.
Estate Rewilding and Future Plans
The new range aims to showcase Tormore's fruit flavour and versatility, reflecting Sukhinder's desire for easy-drinking, accessible whisky reminiscent of the 1960s and 70s. Alongside the launch, the distillery is reopening, and the brothers are revitalizing the surrounding estate. 'Regeneration and rewilding of the land is the current focus for the estate whilst we build the Tormore name,' says Sukhinder.
