Introduction
I picked up the Tormore Blueprint 10 Year Old almost on a whim. Tormore doesn’t usually get much attention compared to some of its Speyside neighbours, but the Blueprint series intrigued me. I’d heard that the series aimed to show a more honest, straightforward expression of the distillery style—bottle at 46%, non-chill filtered, no added colour. That gave me reason to hope for a clean and unmasked Speyside dram, leaning into malt character rather than heavy cask influence. I wasn't expecting fireworks, but I was curious if simplicity here would translate into subtle quality.
Nose
The nose is soft and fairly classic Speyside at first. Apple skins, barley sugar, and a touch of vanilla come through right away. There’s a grassy, lightly floral touch that keeps it fresh. With a bit of time in the glass, some orange peel and faint honey notes appear. It doesn’t leap out of the glass, nor is it especially layered, but it has a clean and understated profile that I found easy to enjoy. There's a slight cereal graininess underneath it all that reminds you this is a whisky grounded in its malt.
Palate
On the palate, it opens quite softly. A gentle sweetness starts things off—honeyed malt, vanilla fudge, and pear slices. The texture is pleasantly oily, not thin, which supports the softer flavours nicely. Mid-palate, there’s a touch of citrus zest and some spice—white pepper rather than baking spices—adding a little grip. The malt continues to speak clearly here, with no heavy woodiness or sherry weight. It’s well-balanced and easygoing rather than particularly bold or assertive.
Finish
The finish is medium in length and stays fairly light. Some gentle malt sweetness and citrus linger, as well as a faint almond note. There’s a touch of dryness at the tail end, possibly from the oak, but it never becomes tannic or bitter. It wraps up without fuss—clean, quiet, and consistent with the rest of the experience.
Price and Value
For a 10-year-old single malt bottled at 46%, this was reasonably priced when I bought it. In value terms, I’d say it offers fair rather than outstanding worth. It doesn’t try to compete with more elaborate or assertive expressions, and for those looking for a soft, malt-led Speyside dram, it delivers just that. Still, if you're seeking layered complexity or strong personality, this might feel a little too subdued for the money. But for transparency of production—natural colour and non-chill filtered—it earns appreciation.
Background
Tormore is a Speyside distillery that often flies under the radar, particularly in official bottlings. Built in the late 1950s, it’s an impressive-looking site but hasn’t had as much presence in the single malt scene. The Blueprint series aims to offer straightforward cask-matured whiskies without added colouring or filtration. This 10-year-old was matured entirely in bourbon casks, which helps explain the spirit-forward, clean profile.
If you're interested in learning more about the distillery, you can visit the official Pernod Ricard site, as they currently own Tormore. It’s not always easy to find much directly from the distillery itself, but independent bottlings and low-key series like Blueprint fill the gap.
Final Notes
Would I buy this bottle again? Possibly, though it wouldn’t be one I’d rush to keep constantly stocked. It suits moods where I want something mellow but not dull—easy sipping without requiring attention. Is it suitable for someone new to whisky? Yes, particularly for those who want to begin understanding malt character without heavy sherry or peat influence. When does it fit best? I found it ideal as a weekday dram—casual, friendly, and not tiring on the palate. Compared to other Speyside 10-year-olds, it’s a bit more subtle and less fruity than something like Benriach, but a touch more satisfying to me than some entry-level Glenlivet.