Tormore distillery is amongst the youngest Scottish whiskies. In 1959, Schenley International built the distillery and completed it in 1960 and distillation began in 1961. Tormore was derived from The Gaelic name “Torra Mhoir” which is interpreted as “the big hill'' and is also the burn running along the distillery. Tormore was the first new distillery to be constructed in Scotland in the 20th century. The distillery was designed by the famous architect, Sir Albert Richardson, one of the foremost British architects at the time. Albert gave the distillery a unique and captivating style.

The edifices are made of granite. Also, there is a clock in the buildings that plays four different Scottish songs an hour every quarter of an hour.  All the workers' houses were constructed in a similar style. Allt an Torra Mhoir Burn is where Tormore Distillery draws its water. The water flows through wild heather and peat, and over expansive granite hills before it finally gets to the distillery with crystalline purity.

When the building of the Tormore distillery commenced in 1959, the objective was to produce malt whisky for the different 'Long John' blends. However, the Tormore malt is used as a component for several Ballantine's blends as well. In 1972, the distillery increased its stills from four to eight. In 1975 the distillery was sold to ‘Whitbread’ and sold again to Allied Domecq in 1989. but before that, In 1986, Tormore was granted the listed building status. Though the distillery was less than 30 years old.

In 2005, Pernod Ricard purchased Allied Domecq, reinforcing its position on the whisky market. Subsequently, the management of Tormore distillery was transferred to their subsidiary (Chivas Brothers) who released a 12 year old official bottling to supplant the 10 years old version that had been available throughout the 1990s.

 In 2000, a 15 year old official bottling was marketed as well. However, this expression is very uncommon and hard to find. Independent bottlings of Tormore used to be very uncommon as well during the 20th century. Nevertheless, during the third millennium, more independent bottlings were made known - notably by Cadenhead’s, Blackadder, Douglas Laing and Signatory.

The most recent refurbishment done to the Tormore distillery was completed in 2012, which brought the total output to 4.4 million litres. Most of the whisky is used in blends produced by Chivas Brothers.

A time capsule in the shape of a pot-still is embedded in the forecourt, with the intention to open it in the year 2060. It contains a tregnum and glasses of Long John, the original founder of the distillery.