Thompson Brothers Mystery Malts Batch 2 - Tormore & GlenWyvis

Thompson Bros Mystery Malts Batch 2 (Tormore 17yo)

Region: Speyside

ABV: 48.5%

Price: £65.00

Distilled in 2008 and matured for the full 17 years in a single Sauternes wine cask, this Tormore was bottled in 2025 as part of Thompson Bros’ Mystery Malt Series No. 2. Just 145 bottles were produced. 

Nose

The nose opens with cloudy apple juice, apricot preserve, meringue, lemon peel, buttery shortbread and a little cream soda too. It's a light nose, yet still fairly expressive, and there's a tinge of gingery spice coming through right at the end. Going back, we're finding gooseberries, a little mango puree and some boiled sweets too. It's got that confectionery shop sweetness thing going on.

Palate

The palate opens with a nicely textured mouthfeel, quite syrupy, and we're instantly hit with waves of tropical fruits, mango, passion fruit puree, pineapple rings, moving into conference pear flesh and green apple skin. It begins very sweet and fruity, then as the palate develops we're finding more malt loaf, sugar coated shortbread and a bit of raw ginger on the finish. The finish is a bit shorter than we'd like, and we're mostly left with a bit of sour candy and malt syrup. The reduction to 48.5% hasn't hurt this too much, there's still a good amount of flavour and texture here.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose has a little more depth, in a bit of a musty way, but those orchard and tropical fruits are still leading the way. There's a bit of golden syrup coming through, along with a bit of candied lemon. It hasn't changed too much overall. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate maintains its texture and mouthfeel, with those tropical fruits feeling candied instead of fresh, and the maltiness falling away somewhat until quite late in the finish. It feels more integrated but at the same time a bit less interesting... still very drinkable though.

Conclusion

Really quite nice - a simple sweet, fruity dram. The palate has a bit more of a journey with the biscuity, malty, gingery finish but overall it's a little one dimensional - fortunately that dimension is one of the better ones. 

Score: 7.5/10

Thompson Bros Mystery Malts Batch 2 (GlenWyvis 7yo)

Region: Highlands

ABV: 48.5%

Price: £65.00

Distilled in 2018 and matured for seven years in an Oloroso sherry octave, this GlenWyvis was bottled in 2025 for Thompson Bros’ Mystery Malt Series No. 2. Just 70 bottles were released. 

Nose

The nose opens with raw potato skins and something a little meaty - we're reminded a little of a roast dinner. Behind this sits rancio, cured meats, paprika, yeast extract and a little black pepper... or maybe lemon pepper seasoning. A seriously savoury nose, but also quite tight and restrained, and a bit spicier than we're used to for that ABV. 

Palate

The palate opens with a splash of sherry vinegar, creamy custard, unsalted chicken skin, lemon meringue and something a little dry, sandpaper-like. The mouthfeel is decent, there's a light syrupyness here and we're finding more buttery, biscuity flavours coming through - it's definitely sweeter than the nose would have led us to expect. The finish is short to medium length, mostly left with some ginger ale spirtziness and flavour. As we go back, we're getting more of a salted caramel hit.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose brings forward rusty copper, foosty oranges and chemically glass cleaner alongside those meaty, salty, rancio aromas from before. We'll be honest, this has gotten quite hard to nose now for us, and we'd avoid adding water at all costs. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate maintains a creaminess, but it's definitely watered down, and some of those funky notes from the reduced nose are seeping in. There's pine needles, dust polish spray and undercooked cake batter. Again, avoid water at all costs.

Conclusion

One of those drams where the nose and palate diverge quite a lot - super savoury and meaty on the nose, much creamier and sweeter on the palate - but both having an underlying salty component. It's not really for us, some may enjoy it more but there's not enough balance and the finish is lacking somewhat. 

Score: 5.5/10

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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