Tamdhu Batch Strength 001

I'll be honest. I think this is my first or second Tamdhu that I've tasted. If it's my second then the first one failed to impress me completely (even though I have a fantastic memory when it comes to remembering what I've tasted).

Mothballed a number of times since it was founded in 1896 it has, once again, re-opened it's doors in May 2013. Situated on River Spey in Speyside this once ultra modern facility boasts 6 stills and an annual production of more than 2 million liters most of which finds it's way into the Edrington blends.

There's not a lot of single malt bottlings to come out of the distillery (though there's a fair number of independents floating around) and so finding OB age statements is fairly hard.

This expression that I'm tasting is the first one to come out of the distillery since they opened a couple of years ago - which means it comprises mainly of olders stocks lying around. How old I have no idea and they've not been very forthcoming with the literature. But given it's rather inexpensive price tag I doubt very old.

My sample is from a hip flask which belonged to a guest who came to my house for a whisky tasting and felt it would be a good idea to smuggle some of his own. It has been bottled at a fairly high cask strength of 58.8%. It is a mix of American and European sherry oak (most of which is first-fill).

Quite oaky. Lots of sherry. Quite crisp. Nice and spicy. Raisins. Cinnamon. Almonds. Cocoa. Very bitter chocolate. A little malty. Hops. Settles down to a milk chocolate. Rose petal. Hint of sourness. Tamarind. Gets sweeter over time. I like it. No major flaws. 22/25

That strong oak again. Cinnamon rub. Quite spicy. Bitter chocolate. Coffee beans. Typically sherried. Oloroso. I feel the American sherry oak lends a new variety of flavors. Almonds. Orange peel. Quite strong. But the young-ish age comes through a little. Maybe just a touch raw. Still not bad. 21/25

Very warm. Very long. Cinnamon. Oak. Chocolate. 22/25

This pretty good. I'm sure people will try and find faults and blow them out of proportion. That's fine. I'm less inclined to do that. Decent whisky with a really nice finish even if it's slightly over-oaked.

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